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Irulegiko Eskua and Basque New-Speakerism

Category: Events Calendar

Date and Time for this Past Event

  • Thursday, Mar 16, 2023  THURSDAY AT 6 PM

Details

Please join us on March 16 at the Basque Museum for a presentation by Eukene Franco-Landa entitled "Irulegiko Eskua: How a treasure from the past can help us understand Basque new-speakerism in contemporary Navarre."
Irulegiko eskua is an archeological find from the 1st century BC, presented to the public in 2022. It is a bronze hand-shaped plank with what looks to be a Basque text. But is it Basque?
It was found in the excavations of the valley of Araguren, south to Iruñea, Navarre’s capital, where, interestingly, Basque is not fully official. Due to linguistic repression, Basque transmission stopped years ago, and currently the youth is reacquiring it through Basque schooling. Hence, the majority of the speakers are not considered native, but ‘new speakers’.
Politicians insist on Basque not being Navarre’s local language, and keep blocking its officiality. However, can historical findings like Irulegi’s demonstrate the contrary and contribute to social change?