Where is the Catalan Language Spoken?

Language is not a genetic gift; it is a social gift. Learning a new language is becoming a member of the club- the community of speakers of that language. Frank Smith

Speaking of a Western romance language, have you ever considered giving yourself the gift of learning how to speak Catalan?

Many people have never considered learning a language such as Catalan since they don't know where it originated. Perhaps, if you track down the history of Catalan, you will be more determined to invest your time in learning the language.

While we still term the Catalan language as a romantic language, it was actually known as a vulgar form of Latin. Catalan was a language predominantly spoken during the Middle Ages. When Spain became unified, the number of people speaking Catalan severely decreased. It was only in the 19th century that the language became more commonly spoken.

About 9 million people to date still speak Catalan as it is a language that is frequently spoken in Catalonia, Balearic Islands, and the Valencian Community. Catalan is in fact the official language of Catalonia, Andorra, and the Balearic Islands.

It can be argued that the Catalan language has a lexical similarity of 85% with French and Spanish and 75% with Sardinian. The Catalan language is rather similar to Occitan, which is spoken in parts of France, Spain, Italy and Monaco.

You may have established that learning Catalan can be highly beneficial whether you are venturing to France or Spain, but a great suggestion if you want to learn this specific language is to venture to somewhere where the Catalan language is spoken. Learning a language in the place where the language commonly gets spoken allows you to immerse yourself into the language and culture fully.

Are you still keen on learning Catalan?

Hear the Catalan Language Spoken in Catalonia

To fully get the learning experience you desire, choose to learn the Catalan language in Catalonia. The minute you think about Catalan, you naturally think about Catalonia (commonly known as the trading nation). Catalonia is a community in Spain and with some of the best landmarks being situated in Catalonia, it is no wonder why Catalonia is so frequently spoken about.

Being a region in the north-east of Spain, it is undeniable that Catalonia has a strong national identity and culture. Aside from identity and culture, the official language of the country is also something to think about when you visit the place.  If you look at the statistics, about 85% of the population in Catalonia speak Catalan as their first language, 97.4% of the population can understand the language, and a further 90.5% of the population can read the language. However, only about 62.3% of the population can write the language.

Having looked at the statistics about the Catalan language in Catalonia, it becomes apparent that you need to focus on learning how to speak the language and you need to understand the language. You don't need to focus too much on learning how to write the language as much.  You may still be hesitant about pursuing Catalan language studies, but did you ever consider going to Barcelona?

Barcelona is Spain’s second-largest city after Madrid, and this is quite a popular destination for students looking to get a taste of the Catalan language while immersing themselves fully in the Spanish culture. If you get to party on the beach while you are trying to grasp the language that may be great as well.

If you haven't dreamt of learning Catalan, you must have dreamt about visiting Barcelona. Imagine having a reason to visit Barcelona. When you choose to learn Catalan, you are choosing to learn the language that will allow you to culturally fit in when you are visiting Barcelona, Lleida, or Girona.

Find your reason to explore a new place... and if this reason entails getting to learn a new language in the process, why not?

Catalan in France (Pyrénées-Orientales)

It doesn't mean that you have to go to Spain only to learn how to speak Catalan. In fact, you can even learn how to speak the language in France. A holiday in France may be all you need to get you to pick up the Catalan language, especially if you intend spending your holidays in the south of France.

If you choose to visit the Pyrénées-Orientales area of France, there are many people who can speak the Catalan language and more than half the amount of people who call Pyrénées-Orientales home can understand the language.  It is here that you will find many people speaking Catalan, Spanish and French.

Since you do want to learn how to speak Catalan, do choose to do so in Pyrénées-Orientales which is known as Northern Catalonia.  It is in Northern Catalonia that you may find many Superprof tutors who will be willing to give you lessons in the language.

Perhaps you want to become proficient in the Catalan language before you head off to France. If this is the case, you can reach out to one of our South African tutors nearest to you. You will find quite a few South African Superprof tutors who are well-versed in the Catalan language.

If you are still hesitant and are unsure if learning Catalan is on the cards for you, find out why you should learn Catalan.

Where to Learn Catalan Without Having to Learn the Language in Catalonia?

If you think your Catalan language learning journey means learning the language in Catalonia only, you are wrong!

Catalan is also a language that is spoken in the Balearic Islands.

When you think of the Balearic Islands, you should be thinking of places such as: Majorca, Minorca, Ibiza, Formentera, Tagomago, S’Espalmador, Carbera, Conillera, and La Dragonera. For all the 1.11 million inhabitants who call the Balearic Islands home, Spanish and Catalan are considered to be the official languages.

While each island has its own Catalan dialect, more than 75% of the population living in the Balearic Islands can speak the language. 93% of the population can understand the language. While not everyone that you meet when you visit the Balearic Islands can speak Catalan, almost anyone that you speak the language to will be able to understand the language.

While the majority of the island speaks Spanish, there is no denying that there still is Catalan schools on the Islands. Despite the fact that the president of the Balearic Islands, José Ramón Bauzá Díaz, removed Catalan as a requirement for civil servants, people on the islands still choose to speak the language.

If you are intrigued to find out everything you need to about the Catalan language, track Catalan's fascinating history.

Catalan Speaking Regions Offers You a Chance to Learn Catalan

 Do you wish to learn the Catalan language, understand the grammar, and perfect how to speak and read the language?

Take a trip to Catalonia as the University of Valencia offers free Catalan classes. These classes are a great option if you have plans to study in Valencia. Choosing to complete your studies in Valencia will give you the chance to gain a Spanish and Catalan qualification for free!

Another free offering will be your first Catalan class should you choose to learn the language with the help of our Superprof tutors. All of our Superprof Catalan tutors offers you your first class for free.

If you don't wish to venture to Valencia to learn how to speak the language, Andorra is another state where you can consider taking Catalan language lessons. Andorra is a state located between France and Spain and being one of the smallest states in Europe doesn't make it less of a cool place to learn the Catalan language. In fact, in the capital city of Andorra, the only official language is Catalan. With so many Andorrans speaking Catalan as their mother tongue language, it is a certainty that you will enjoy the experience if you choose to learn Catalan in Andorra.

Besides learning the language in Andorra, you will pay far less tax for cigarettes and alcohol in this state.

If you are still struggling with how to get started with your Catalan language learning journey, find out how to learn Catalan.

If you can't get to Catalonia to learn Catalan where it is mostly spoken, you don't have to throw in the towel and give up on trying to learn the language.  You can get the full language experience should you choose to learn the language with one of the Superprof qualified private Catalan tutors. To get started, search for all the available tutors in your area by looking at these tutor profiles. Looking at tutor profiles is vital since no two tutors are alike in terms of qualifications, years of experience, and rates charged. Looking at each tutor's profile will enable you to compare tutor rates, experience, teaching approaches, and read the reviews left by their other students.

You could choose to take up face-to-face tutorials if you are keen to learn at your own pace and meet your language learning goal. If you cannot find a Superprof tutor offering face-to-face tutorials in your area, you could opt for online tutorials. Online tutorials do actually work out to be a more cost-effective way to learn the language.

Tot serà genial (all will be great) should you reach out to a Superprof tutor to help you learn the language!