Catalan Studies
Introduction
Catalan is the most prominent of Spain's regional languages, with over 11 million speakers, 6 million of whom claim Catalan as their first language. Enjoying co-official status in Catalonia, Valencia and the Balearic Islands, and with speakers in Andorra (where it is the official language), France and Italy, Catalan is the expressive vehicle of a vibrant trans-national culture.
Did you know that in Barcelona there is another official language than Spanish called Catalan?
Barcelona is a cosmopolitan city known for its plurilinguism, its social particularities but also for being a unique scenario of diversity. It is the capital of Catalonia and belongs to the Spanish state but it is also very close to France and North Africa. The confluence of different cultures have converted Barcelona into a privileged place of encounter. For this reason the University of Brown has decided to offer a program there, and also Catalan Language courses, to give students the possibility of understanding Catalan reality and its multiculturalism.
What is Catalan useful for?
Which is the purpose of listening to Music? Is the contemplation of a painting something that has a practical application? Does the reading of a poem pay your bills? The most beautiful things in life serve to no practical use in its most strict definition but they give us pleasure, sharpen our mind and broaden our ideas. Learning Catalan will be a pleasure for you because you will have the taste of the Mediterranean sea in your mouth, the images of Gaudí’s architecture in your mind and the sounds of the medieval quarter of Barcelona in your ears.