 |
5.2.5 Knowledge of
Catalan by the pupils of the Balearic Islands
During the
1999-2000 and 2000-2001 school year two studies were undertaken to evaluate the knowledge
of Catalan language attained by pupils when they receive their school diplomas at the end
of secondary education. The objective was to determine
whether their linguistic skills were comparable to those required to be awarded
certificates B or C of the Junta Avaluadora de Català (Catalan Evaluation Board). The
results were useful in achieving homologation (equivalence) between the language courses
of the regulated school system and the Catalan Evaluation Board certificates. Table 13
shows the equivalencies which were established after this study. (6)
Table
13. Equivalencies between the level of knowledge reached during regulated
education and the CEB certificates
|
|
Equivalent certificate |
| Final score of language at 4th grade of ESO |
C
(Aprovat-Bé) |
Certificate
A, of oral knowledge of Catalan |
B
(Notable)
A (Excel·lent) |
Certificate B, of basic knowledge of Catalan, oral and written |
| Final score of language at 2nd year of high school |
5,
6 o 7 |
| 8,
9 o 10 |
Certificate
C, of middle knowledge of Catalan, oral and written |
6. Work in progress
In conclusion,
we will refer to two studies in progress. The first is the 2001 census of population and
housing in which the question on linguistic skills was reintroduced. The experts of the
Directorate General for Language Policy took active part in the phrasing of this item in
the questionnaire. The initial idea (to retain the use of the term Catalan language,
and to complete it with an explanation of the identity of the language) was rejected due
to the limited space the INE (National Institute of Statistics) left for this question in
the official form. Finally, the question was asked in the following terms: "Knowledge
of Catalan language (Balearic or other varieties): don’t understand; understand;
understand and read; speak; speak and read; speak, read and write". Clear
instructions were given to interviewers about this question so that they could dispel any
doubt or misunderstanding.
The second
study is the survey of the sociolinguistic map of the Balearic Islands. Scholars are now
working on the questionnaire aiming to compile information about the linguistic background
of the interviewees, their linguistic skills and usage in different situations, their
attitudes towards the language issue and their subjective perception of the vitality of
Catalan. The first results are expected to be available in early 2003.
7. Appendix
Technical
files of the surveys and studies reviewed in this article and bibliographic references
where results have been published.
| Name
of study: |
1986 Municipal Census list |
| Bibliographic
references: |
IBAE 1989; Melià 1993; Alomar 1995a;
Ginard 1995 |
| Institution
in question: |
Each of the municipal areas. On the
overall processing of the data: Instituto Nacional de Estadística. On the processing and
tabulation of data relating to the Balearic Islands: Institut Balear d’Estadística |
| Fieldwork
date: |
1986 |
Scope: |
All
population of Balearic Islands over six. (N=626.956) |
| Name
of study: |
1991 Census |
| Bibliographic
references: |
IBAE 1993; Melià 1993; Alomar 1995a
i 1995b; Ginard 1995 |
| Institution
in question: |
Instituto Nacional de Estadística
Institut Balear d’Estadística |
| Fieldwork
date: |
1991 |
Scope: |
All
population of Balearic Islands over six
(N=661.306) |
| Name of study: |
Estudio CIS 2052.
Bilingüismo. Balearic Islands |
| Bibliographic references: |
CIS 1993; Siguan 1994 |
| Institution in question: |
Centro de Investigacions
Sociológicas |
| Fieldwork date: |
16-26 April 1993 |
Scope: |
Population aged 18 or more in the
Balearic Islands(and other communities with two official languages) |
| Sample: |
473 individuals (Balearic islands
only). Level of confidence: 95.5% (2 sigmas), p=q; accurate to: ± 4.59% |
| Name
of study: |
Estudio 2228: Conciencia
nacional y regional (Baleares) [2228 Survey: National and
Regional Awareness (Balearic Islands)] |
| Bibliographic
references: |
CIS 1996 |
| Institution in question: |
Centro de Investigaciones
Sociológicas |
| Fieldwork date: |
November-December
1996 |
Scope: |
Population
of Spanish state aged 18 or more Sample widened to include non Castillian regions, as well
as Andalusia and the Canary Islands. |
| Sample: |
300 individuals (Balearic Islands
only). Level of Confidence: 95,5 % (2 sigmas), p=q; accurate to: ± 5,77 % |
| Name
of study: |
Estudio CIS 2300. Uso de
lenguas en comunidades bilingües: Baleares (Islas) [2300 CIS Survey. Language
use in bilingual communities: Balearic Islands] |
| Bibliographic
references: |
CIS 1998; Siguan 1999 |
| Institution in question: |
Centro de Investigaciones
Sociológicas |
| Fieldwork date: |
8-21
October 1998 |
Scope: |
Population
of the Balearic Islands aged 18 years (and other communities with two official languages) |
| Sample: |
473 individuals (Balearic Islands
only). Level of Confidence: 95,5 % (2 sigmas), p=q; accurate to: ± 4,60 % |
| Name
of study: |
Enquesta sociolingüística
als Països Catalans
(Sociolinguistic survey in the Catalan countries) |
| Bibliographic
references: |
Argente i Bibiloni 1998 |
| Institution in question: |
Institut d’Estudis Avançats de
les Illes Balears – UIB |
| Fieldwork date: |
1991 |
Scope: |
Population
of Catalonia the Balearic Islands and Valencia, aged 18 or over. |
| Sample: |
Total no. of individuals
interviewed: N=1742. Total no. of individuals interviewed in the Balearic Islands: N=575.
The level of confidence and the percentage level of accuracy are not mentioned, but, from
the sample size, we can take it that, for a level of confidence of 95.5% (p=q), the margin
of error is a little broader than ± 4% (specifically ± 4.17%). Sample compiled from the
electoral roll. |
| Name
of study: |
Tercera encuesta básica [Third
basic survey] |
| Bibliographic
references: |
De Zárraga [unpublished] |
| Institution in question: |
Conselleria de Presidència del
Govern de les Illes Balears [Presidential Ministry of the Balearic Islands
Government].
Carried out by the SondyMark company |
| Fieldwork date: |
8
May – 5 June 2002 |
Scope: |
Balearic
Islands inhabitants aged 18 years or more, with Spanish citizenship |
| Sample: |
1,600 individuals: 400 in Palma, 400
in the rest of Majorca, 400 in Minorca and 400 in Eivissa and Formentera. Sample
stratified by municipality. Sample balanced in terms of political leanings of the
population. Sample weightings based on the 1999 electoral census. Level of confidence:
95%; accurate to different percentages depending on the source of the sample:
(50%): ± 7.1% (N=200); ± 5.0% (N=400); ± 3.5% (N=800); ± 2.5% (N=1600). |
| Name
of study: |
Enquesta sociolingüística
sobre la població de Mallorca
[Sociolinguistic survey on the Majorcan population] |
| Bibliographic
references: |
UIB-CIM 1986 |
| Institution in question: |
Consell Insular de Majorca [Council
of Majorca]
Universitat de les Illes Balears |
| Fieldwork date: |
November
1985 – June 1986 |
Scope: |
Population
of Majorca |
| Sample: |
Sample obtained by stratified random
sampling (strata: municipal areas). N=1.052. Confidence interval 95%; accurate to: ± 3% |
|
