User:JosebaAbaitua/sandbox/References/HDum2021/AZKARATE IBAÑEZ, Maite

Sameness and difference, authenticity, authority, and legitimacy, all key elements of linguistic and other forms of identity, argue Bucholtz and Hall, “are not objective states, but phenomenological processes that emerge from social interaction” These interactions in turn are situated within ideological discourses and structures of power that must be taken into account and which these interactions semiotically reproduce, destabilise or rework.

This is the approach taken in our analysis of the self-perceptions of new speakers. Our data allow us to explore how new speakers situated themselves in relation to the three commonly used terms for Basque linguistic identity and the reasoning they gave for those self-ascriptions. These discussions offer insight into taken for granted ways of understanding linguistic identity currently operating. They also point to tensions and emergent configurations. As we will see shortly, at various points our subjects’ discussions convey a conception of linguistic identity as a deep and enduring essence profoundly shaped by “mother tongue”. Contemporary language ideology assigns a privileged role to both the notion of the mother tongue as a mechanism for indelibly shaping one’s character and to native speakers as the ideal and most authentic embodiment of a linguistic community’s identity ; ;.

Our focus group made up solely of university students provided yet more evidence of the ways new speakers are trying to sort out the boundaries and meanings of their identifications with Basque. At one point, when the participants are busy discussing what an euskaldun is, they try to clarify matters by differentiating between two different meanings of the term: “Basque speaker” (as a linguistic identity) and “Basque person” (related to cultural and/or national identity). While the discourse of the language revitalisation movement has consistently sought to unite the two meanings, in this exchange we see partici- pants treating them as potentially separable.

As noted, the density of Basque speakers across the BAC varies significantly. While statistically high concentrations of Basque speakers would ostensibly seem to afford many opportunities for new speakers to use Basque, social net- works must also be taken into account. . have shown, access to Basque-speaking social networks, especially those which are close to a person’s emotional world (family and friends) or workplace, strongly influence real world opportunities to speak in Basque.

However, some studies have shown that use patterns among the young are not a good predic- tor of future practice, which can change over the course of a lifetime depending on the circum- stances ;.

Noteworthy as well is the uneven distribution of Basque speakers producing pockets of intense concentration where Basque is a habitual language of social life and others where opportunities for speaking and hearing Basque in one’s everyday surroundings are rare. Another cause for concern are the findings from recent studies showing that youth who have learned Basque in school do not seem to be using it outside the classroom.