The term Catalan Countries (Catalan: Països Catalans) includes all territories where the Catalan language is spoken. This concept first appeared at the end of the 19th century and later was popularized by the Valencian writer Joan Fuster, in his book Nosaltres els valencians ("We, the Valencians") (1962) with a very strong sense of Catalan identity. Nowadays, the term is politically charged, and tends to be closely associated with Catalan nationalism and Catalan independentism.

The "Catalan Countries" are sometimes referred to by Catalan nationalists el pi de les tres branques (the three-branched pine, in Catalan), for its territory can be roughly divided in three parts:

• The former Principality of Catalonia, comprising:
  • the current Spanish Autonomous Community of Catalonia (Catalan: Catalunya)
  • Northern Catalonia (or Pays Catalan), in France
• The former kingdom of Majorca : the Balearic Islands (Catalan: Illes Balears)
• The former kingdom of Valencia: Valencia (Catalan/valencian: País Valencià or València)

All of these were part of the Crown of Aragon; all were outside of Aragon proper.

In addition, the term also often embraces

• La Franja in Aragon (a Catalan-speaking region that is part of Aragon proper)
• Andorra (geographically adjacent, linked by language, but never under the same political dominion in the period where a distinct Catalan language has existed.)

This territory does not coincide exactly with the places where Catalan is the native language. For example, in the north-western region of Catalonia known as Val d'Aran, a dialect of Occitan, Aranese, is spoken and considered the native language, although Spanish and Catalan are also spoken. In western and south-western areas of Valencia, only Spanish is spoken. There are also some Catalan-speaking places outside the "Catalan Countries", such as El Carche in Murcia and the city of Alghero (L'Alguer) on the island of Sardinia.

Different meanings and controversy

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When the term is used in a strictly cultural/linguistic rather than nationalistic sense —analogously to La Francophonie— places such as Alghero are usually included within this definition. Conversely, when used in this sense, the non-Catalan-speaking areas of Valencia are excluded; the Val d'Aran may or may not be included.

The term is inevitably controversial, because Catalan nationalism is controversial, especially in a Spanish context. On the one hand, the concept of the Catalan Countries is seen as regional exceptionalism, counterposed to a centralizing Spanish national identity; on the other hand, some see it as an attempt by a nationalism centered in Catalonia proper to lay a hegemonic claim to Valencia, the Balearics, and the historically Catalan regions of France, whereas these three territories present a much less successful political Catalan nationalist sentiment than Catalonia proper itself (in several parts of the territories which the Catalan Countries concept call for itself this Catalan nationalist sentiment is actually very minoritary or non existent at all). In the strictily cultural/linguistic dimension of the concept the Acadèmia Valenciana de la Llengua in particular, accepts the philologic unity of the Catalan language (which in the Land of Valencia has been traditionally called by native speakers Valentian instead of Catalan), without necessarily endorsing the project of a common cultural identity embracing these areas.

See also

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• Euskal Herria, a political-cultural concept covering the Basque areas of Spain and France.

External links

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• "Catalan Countries" in the English version of the Catalan Hiperencyclopedia.
• Lletra. Catalan Literature Online

Catalan Countries | Crown of Aragon | Andorra | Balearic Islands | Catalonia | Valencia (autonomous community) | Politics of Catalonia | Politics of Spain | Politics of France | Sovereignty movements

Països Catalans | Països Catalans | Países Catalanes | Katalan Herriak | Pays catalans | Países Cataláns | Paesi Catalani | Katalonske države