Occitania: Difference between revisions
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'''Occitania''' (Occitan: ''Occitània'') is a historic area in southwestern [[Europe]] where [[Occitan language|Occitan]] is the autochthonous language. Is is politically located in southern [[France]], part of [[Italy]] ([[Occitan Valleys]]), part of [[Spain]] ([[Aran Valley]]) and [[Monaco]]. Occitania is often referred to as the ''Midi'' (i.e. the 'South' in French), although this term lacks of linguistic precision. | '''Occitania''' (Occitan: ''Occitània'') is a historic area in southwestern [[Europe]] where [[Occitan language|Occitan]] is the autochthonous language. Is is politically located in southern [[France]], part of [[Italy]] ([[Occitan Valleys]]), part of [[Spain]] ([[Aran Valley]]) and [[Monaco]]. Occitania is often referred to as the ''Midi'' (i.e. the 'South' in French), although this term lacks of linguistic precision. | ||
It stretches between two seas, the [[Mediterranean Sea]] and the [[Atlantic Ocean]], and three mountains, the [[Alps]], the [[Massif | ==Geography== | ||
It stretches between two seas, the [[Mediterranean Sea]] and the [[Atlantic Ocean]], and three mountains, the [[Alps]], the [[Massif Central]] and the [[Pyrenees]]. I forms a large isthmus between the [[Iberian Peninsula]] and the rest of Europe. | |||
Occitania comprises the following cultural regions, from west to east: [[Bearn]], [[Gascony]] (including [[Aran Valley]]), [[Limousin (region)|Limousin]], southern [[Bourbonnais]], [[Auvergne]], [[Velay]], [[Vivarais]], [[Guyenne]], [[Languedoc]], southern [[Dauphiné]], the [[Occitan Valleys]], [[Provence]], the [[County of Nice]] and [[Monaco]]. | Occitania comprises the following cultural regions, from west to east: [[Bearn]], [[Gascony]] (including [[Aran Valley]]), [[Limousin (region)|Limousin]], southern [[Bourbonnais]], [[Auvergne]], [[Velay]], [[Vivarais]], [[Guyenne]], [[Languedoc]], southern [[Dauphiné]], the [[Occitan Valleys]], [[Provence]], the [[County of Nice]] and [[Monaco]]. | ||
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The largest cities are [[Marseille]], [[Toulouse]], [[Bordeaux]] and [[Nice]]. | The largest cities are [[Marseille]], [[Toulouse]], [[Bordeaux]] and [[Nice]]. | ||
==History== | |||
Since the Middle Ages, Occitania has always existed as a cohesive, cultural area with a certain consciousness of its unity,<ref>LAFONT Robèrt (2003) ''Petita istòria europèa d’Occitània'', coll. Istòria, Canet: Trabucaire</ref> as the [[Occitan literature|literary development of the Occitan language]] shows (and the usual term ''Midi''). Nonetheless it has never been a political entity. Several political attemps of unification existed, especially between the 11th and the 13th centuries, carried on by the [[Duchy of Aquitania]], the [[County of Toulouse]] and the [[Kingdom of Aragon]].<ref>BONASSIÉ Pierre (1979) “L'Occitanie, un État manqué?”, ''L’Histoire'' 14: 31-40</ref> Since the 19th century, several movements have tried to improve the social use of Occitan and to achieve the public recognition of Occitan culture. Part of the Occitan movement expresses political claims ranging from regional autonomy to full independence. In 1990, Occitan was recognized as an official language in Aran Valley (Spain)<ref>Act no. 16 of 1990 (''Regim especiau dera Val d'Aran'' / ''Special Regime of [[Aran Valley]]'') and Act no. 1 of 1998 (''Lei de politica linguistica'' / ''Language Policy Act''), both in the autonomous region of [[Catalonia]]; see [http://www20.gencat.cat/portal/site/Llengcat/menuitem.b318de7236aed0e7a129d410b0c0e1a0/?vgnextoid=ba96f554f917a110VgnVCM1000008d0c1e0aRCRD&vgnextchannel=ba96f554f917a110VgnVCM1000008d0c1e0aRCRD&vgnextfmt=default&newLang=oc_ES here].</ref> and in 1999, it became a protected language in a large part of the Occitan Valleys (Italy).<ref>Act no. 482 of 1999 in Italy (''Norme in materia di tutela delle minoranze linguistiche storiche'' / ''Norms Concerning the Protection of Historical Language Minorities)'', see [http://www.camera.it/parlam/leggi/99482l.htm here].</ref> | Since the Middle Ages, Occitania has always existed as a cohesive, cultural area with a certain consciousness of its unity,<ref>LAFONT Robèrt (2003) ''Petita istòria europèa d’Occitània'', coll. Istòria, Canet: Trabucaire</ref> as the [[Occitan literature|literary development of the Occitan language]] shows (and the usual term ''Midi''). Nonetheless it has never been a political entity. Several political attemps of unification existed, especially between the 11th and the 13th centuries, carried on by the [[Duchy of Aquitania]], the [[County of Toulouse]] and the [[Kingdom of Aragon]].<ref>BONASSIÉ Pierre (1979) “L'Occitanie, un État manqué?”, ''L’Histoire'' 14: 31-40</ref> Since the 19th century, several movements have tried to improve the social use of Occitan and to achieve the public recognition of Occitan culture. Part of the Occitan movement expresses political claims ranging from regional autonomy to full independence. In 1990, Occitan was recognized as an official language in Aran Valley (Spain)<ref>Act no. 16 of 1990 (''Regim especiau dera Val d'Aran'' / ''Special Regime of [[Aran Valley]]'') and Act no. 1 of 1998 (''Lei de politica linguistica'' / ''Language Policy Act''), both in the autonomous region of [[Catalonia]]; see [http://www20.gencat.cat/portal/site/Llengcat/menuitem.b318de7236aed0e7a129d410b0c0e1a0/?vgnextoid=ba96f554f917a110VgnVCM1000008d0c1e0aRCRD&vgnextchannel=ba96f554f917a110VgnVCM1000008d0c1e0aRCRD&vgnextfmt=default&newLang=oc_ES here].</ref> and in 1999, it became a protected language in a large part of the Occitan Valleys (Italy).<ref>Act no. 482 of 1999 in Italy (''Norme in materia di tutela delle minoranze linguistiche storiche'' / ''Norms Concerning the Protection of Historical Language Minorities)'', see [http://www.camera.it/parlam/leggi/99482l.htm here].</ref> | ||
==Footnotes== | ==Footnotes== | ||
{{reflist}} | {{reflist}} | ||
Revision as of 12:02, 6 November 2008
Occitania (Occitan: Occitània) is a historic area in southwestern Europe where Occitan is the autochthonous language. Is is politically located in southern France, part of Italy (Occitan Valleys), part of Spain (Aran Valley) and Monaco. Occitania is often referred to as the Midi (i.e. the 'South' in French), although this term lacks of linguistic precision.
Geography
It stretches between two seas, the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, and three mountains, the Alps, the Massif Central and the Pyrenees. I forms a large isthmus between the Iberian Peninsula and the rest of Europe.
Occitania comprises the following cultural regions, from west to east: Bearn, Gascony (including Aran Valley), Limousin, southern Bourbonnais, Auvergne, Velay, Vivarais, Guyenne, Languedoc, southern Dauphiné, the Occitan Valleys, Provence, the County of Nice and Monaco.
The largest cities are Marseille, Toulouse, Bordeaux and Nice.
History
Since the Middle Ages, Occitania has always existed as a cohesive, cultural area with a certain consciousness of its unity,[1] as the literary development of the Occitan language shows (and the usual term Midi). Nonetheless it has never been a political entity. Several political attemps of unification existed, especially between the 11th and the 13th centuries, carried on by the Duchy of Aquitania, the County of Toulouse and the Kingdom of Aragon.[2] Since the 19th century, several movements have tried to improve the social use of Occitan and to achieve the public recognition of Occitan culture. Part of the Occitan movement expresses political claims ranging from regional autonomy to full independence. In 1990, Occitan was recognized as an official language in Aran Valley (Spain)[3] and in 1999, it became a protected language in a large part of the Occitan Valleys (Italy).[4]
Footnotes
- ↑ LAFONT Robèrt (2003) Petita istòria europèa d’Occitània, coll. Istòria, Canet: Trabucaire
- ↑ BONASSIÉ Pierre (1979) “L'Occitanie, un État manqué?”, L’Histoire 14: 31-40
- ↑ Act no. 16 of 1990 (Regim especiau dera Val d'Aran / Special Regime of Aran Valley) and Act no. 1 of 1998 (Lei de politica linguistica / Language Policy Act), both in the autonomous region of Catalonia; see here.
- ↑ Act no. 482 of 1999 in Italy (Norme in materia di tutela delle minoranze linguistiche storiche / Norms Concerning the Protection of Historical Language Minorities), see here.