Is Spain a multi-lingual country?

The Kingdom of Spain located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula bordered by the Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, France, Andorra and Portugal, proudly states in its constitution that all Spaniards and the people of Spain have a right to exercise their human rights, cultures, traditions and languages. The constitution also establishes that all languages of Spain will also be official in their respective communities.

Castilian Spanish (Español) is recognized as the official language across Spain, and it is the right and duty of every Spaniard to know the language.

The other official languages of Spain in addition to Spanish are:

• Basque in the Basque Country and Navarre (spoken by 2% of the Spanish population)
• Catalan in Catalonia and the Balearic Islands, Valencian in the Valencian Community (Catalan & Valencian considered to be the same language, are spoken by 17% of the Spanish population)
• Aranese spoken in Val d'Aran
• Galician in Galicia (spoken by 7% of the Spanish population)

Other non-official minority languages include: 

• Asturian in Asturias
• Leonese in Castile and León
• Aragonese in Aragon
• Spanish Sign Language
• Catalan Sign Language
• Valencian Sign Language

However, just because one can speak Spanish, still doesn’t mean that they will master the various local dialects of Castilian. For example, the Andalusian or Canarian dialects, each of these with their own distinct ways of pronouncing words and local expressions have been said to resemble the Spanish of Latin America.  Additionally, in the north, Eonavian is a local dialect between Asturian and Galician.  To the western areas, bordering Portugal, one may also hear the Galician-Portuguese based dialect known as Fala. 

While all Spaniards speak Castilian Spanish, many Spaniards in specific regions also speak the local language.  In the public schools, other foreign languages are also being taught.  French is a popular foreign language in public schools, due to Spain’s close proximity with France.  English has now become more widespread in classrooms across the country. Additionally, many of today’s younger Spanish generation are to exposed to Mandarin or Japanese in school or private lessons.

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