Mastering the King’s Tongue. Language-Learning Dynamics among 18th-Century Basque Elites, a Context Proposal

Abstract

Learning languages is a fundamental part of today’s education. Was it so in the past? In this paper, we try to present a context to better understand language learning among certain Basque elites during the Early Modern period in Spain. These educational dynamics will be examined within a broader European and Hispanic milieu, with a perspective inspired by the Social History of Language. As a first approach to the topic, the aim of this study will be to examine the issue within its own terms, providing a context proposal that may help to avoid ongoing controversies and could foster further studies on the linguistic education of Basque elites or other sectors of society in Early Modern times. Bearing this objective in mind, we will sketch different aspects that, although may seem disconnected with each other, are linked by this general background. Testimonies of linguistic shifts, the social meaning of different accents, the identity of the creators of the Language Academies, some regional language uses in written or literary texts and, particularly some educative texts in Basque language will be analysed. Content: 1. Introduction: for a diachronic approach to (linguistic) education. 2. Lingua regalis: the adoption of Castilian language in the Hispanic Monarchy. 3. Who speaks what language? The adoption of Spanish by the peripheral elites. 4. Conclusions.