LOCAL LANGUAGES/DIALECTS

Throughout the world many local languages and dialects exist. Don't be surprised if you've learnt a few words and phrases of a language yet the language you hear when visiting the country sounds different. This may be because people are speaking in their local dialect. However, if you speak in the language you know locals should respond and reply in this too.

Many local languages and dialects have historical roots and represent the desire of a community to show their autonomy. In some countries the local languages are officially recognised and people see this as their first language and the main language of their country as their second.

Spain is an example of a country where several languages are spoken. The main Spanish language is known as Castilian and is spoken by the majority of Spanish people in addition to their local language. Local languages include Catalan, Valencian, Galician, Basque and Aranese. In these areas people usually speak in their local language and will only revert to standard Castilian if that's the only language the other person speaks. In schools children are taught in the local language and their books are all in this too. They are also taught in Castilian, so become bi-lingual very quickly.

In France there are several local languages in additional to official French, including Provencal, Languedoc, Basque, Breton, Flemish, Corsican, Alsatian and Occitan. The local languages are more often spoken in rural areas and tend to be used more frequently by the older generation.

Another country that has a mixture of languages is Switzerland. The four languages are French, German, Italian and Romansch. Romansch is the lesser spoken language of the south of Switzerland, but is still spoken by approximately 35,000 people. An interesting point is that Serbian and Croatian is now spoken by more people in Switzerland than traditional Romansch, due to the influx of foreigners since the war.

Languages are shaped by culture and change as more people move to different countries from their native land. These changes take place very slowly over many years. Many European languages are based on Latin and words are often similar, for example Italy, France, Spain and Portugal have similar sounding words, but beware, the meaning can often be very different.

Where local languages are predominant be prepared for street signs, menus, signs in shops and newspapers to be in the local dialect.

When studying where a language comes from you only need to briefly research the country's history to see that where invasions have taken place and settlers have made the country their home their language has become widely spoken. The Americas speak Spanish in many regions, Portuguese is spoken in Brazil and French is spoken in some parts of Canada. Within these countries local dialects also exist, as they do all over the world.