2. HISTORY
Theorigin of the Basque language is
unknown.The most logical theory is that
Basque was spoken for years and years
around the Pyrenees mountains. It's the
oldest language in Europe.
3. Provinces and dialect
There are different dialects, according to the seven provinces.
There are differences in the verbs, in the vocabulary and in the
pronunciation. However we have invented an “official unified
Basque” to understand each other.
4. Border
Politically, we are situated between
France and Spain
This separates the Basque country in
two parts : Iparralde (the North) and
Hegoalde (The South)
In the two parts we can see
differences in vocabulary. In the
North we take words from French
whereas in the South from Spanish
5.
6.
Spain is organized in autonomous
regions and so the South is in two
parts
In the first part Basque is co-official
with Spanish and in the second
(Navarre/Nafarroa) it is different, it
depends on the region
In the North, it's not official and
French is the main language
7. What does Basque look like?
Gizon-emakume guztiak aske jaiotzen dira, duintasun eta
eskubide berberak dituztela; eta ezaguera eta kontzientzia
dutenez gero, elkarren artean senide legez jokatu beharra
dute.
Translation
All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They
are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one
another in a spirit of brotherhood.
(Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights)
8. If we take a simple sentence
Etxe zahar bat dut
Literally in English:
house old a have I
We can see that the syntax is completely
different from other European languages
