Catalan culture for Expat Relocation in Barcelona
Catalan society has a long tradition of autonomy and cultural uniqueness. In Spain, the Catalan people are known for their motivation and commitment to work, values rooted in a strong mercantile tradition. They can also be perceived as serious and reserved, but this should never be interpreted as unfriendliness but rather a clearer division between professional and personal relationships. Catalans, serious as they are in business affairs, are at their most extroverted and lively when sur- rounded by family and friends. Catalans are Spanish in their vitality and zest for life, and for all the importance they place on hard work, they always put social and family life first. With just the right amount of respect and amiability, you will have no trouble at all finding pleasant colleagues, good neighbours and even lifelong friends among Barcelona’s locals.
Barcelona is a multilingual city with two official languages. Here as in the rest of Catalonia, Spanish shares co-official status with Catalan, the language of Catalonia. The Catalan language is a cherished, indispensable part of Catalan identity and culture, and it will surely play an important role in your everyday life in Barcelona.
Most locals, especially those living in urban areas such as Barcelona, can be consid- ered balanced bilinguals. This means that they can switch between Catalan and Spanish with little to no effort. In fact, many Catalans instinctively speak to foreigners in Spanish. In addition, a part of Barcelona’s population is composed of immigrants or descendants of immigrants from other parts of Spain who consider Spanish their mother tongue and home language. Spanish is widely used in Barce- lona, in the home, in the street and in the media, and if you speak the language you can communicate with the locals as soon as you arrive.
The importance of the Catalan language in all areas of Catalan life is undeniable. A large number of Catalan families exclusively speak Catalan in the home and consider it their language of identity. Catalan is the language of instruction in schools in Catalonia, where Spanish and a foreign language, usually English, are also taught. In the region’s universities, although teach- ing is conducted in both Spanish and Catalan, the latter is adopted as institutional language and is thus used in administrative affairs. Local government bodies and institutions also conduct business in Catalan. In Barcelona and the rest of Catalonia, commercial signage is mostly in Catalan, and street, town and city names are always in this language. For anyone planning to live in Barcelona, learning at least a little Catalan is highly recommended.
The good news is that Catalan, like Spanish, is a Romance language. Given the close proximity between these related lan- guages, if you speak Spanish (or French or Italian or any other language in the family) you are already one step ahead in learning Catalan. Apart from this, the Catalan gov- ernment and many of its universities and institutions offer free introductory courses as well as Internet learning resources. When you get to Barcelona or even before you arrive, there are a number of ways for you to learn Catalan.
The presence of a regional language is just another feature that makes the cultural tapestry of Barcelona richer and more colourful. Knowledge of Catalan, though by no means required, will make your inte- gration into Catalan society easier. It can also open new doors in your professional, business, social and personal life, enrich your living experience in Barcelona, and enable you to enjoy a rich, diverse cultural and leisure offering that reflects the city’s two-thousand-year old history.
