Spanish nationalist Popular Party (PP) and regionalist Aragonese Party (PAR) have decided to ignore scientific linguistic knowledge and have today passed an amendment to 2009 Aragon's Law of Languages that changes the official names of Catalan and Aragonese. These are the denominations that the academic community uses for both languages, but this does not seem to be enough for PP and PAR: from now onwards, the languages will be known -a world premiere- by two acronyms. Aragonese is rebaptised as LAPAPYP (own Aragonese language of the Pyrenees and the pre-Pyrenees, Spanish acronym) and Catalan is to be known as LAPAO (own Aragonese language of the eastern area).

Non-scientific denominations LAPAO and LAPAPYP are not the only changes that the amendment introduces. As Aragonese minister for Education, University, Culture and Sports Dolores Serrat already said last June, public administrations will no longer have any obligation to answer citizens who use Catalan or Aragonese in those languages. It is also foreseen that a single academy for all so-called "linguistic modalities" of Aragon will be created. This means opening the door to deny that Aragonese and Catalan are languages on their own.

All this goes against what Article 7 of the Statute of Autonomy of Aragon states. According to the Statute, the own languages of Aragon must be respected, fostered and taught, and it must be assured that their speakers can use them in dealings with the public administration. Article 7 also says that no one can be discriminated against because of his or her language.

The amendment also contradicts European standards on linguistic protection, such as those contained in the European Charter for Regional and Minority Languages. The Spanish state has signed and ratified the Charter, which is a legally binding instrument.

Decision under heavy criticism

Political parties, associations and academies have heavily critized the decision taken by PP and PAR, who hold an absolute majority in the Aragonese Parliament. Main opposition party PSOE considers that PP is trying to hide that the government is "failing to address" social problems. More alarmingly, Aragonese nationalist party Chunta argues that the amendment will help in the extinction of the Aragonese language, which is severely endangered. Spanish federalist IU recalls that the rights of Catalan and Aragonese speakers will no longer be respected.

The Institute for Catalan Studies has said that LAPAO and LAPAPYP names "go against common sense and scientific standards" and has added that "Catalan" and "Aragonese" should be the valid names to refer to those languages in official and academic circles.

Further information:

• Articles on Nationalia:Spanish conservatives on the way to further restrict linguistic rights of Aragonese and Catalan speakers and "Our children can only study Aragonese and Catalan once the school day is over"