Figure 3. ILN by sector – First observation

A study of the first observations of those organisations belonging to the three priority sectors gives a global ILN per sector. This index, done before measures designed to increase the knowledge and use of Catalan were implemented, was higher in the sector which included the Administration (the official usage and linguistic rights sector), and did not reach the previously mentioned threshold in the other two sectors. The first comment that could be made is to ask why, in the official usage sector, the initial global ILN does not reach a higher percentage in the use of Catalan considering that the Administration was included here. The fact that the legal sphere (lawyers’ offices, legal services etc) was also included in this sector has influenced the outcome, not to mention the fact that there are no agreements to encourage the use of Catalan in those public bodies where normal usage is made of Catalan – other comments that might be made on this issue will have to be the subject of another article.

6. Analysis of the first observations by sub sector

6.1. Official usage and linguistic rights

Figure 4. Official usage and linguistic rights

In the Official usage and linguistic rights sector a significant difference was observed between the two sub sectors which make it up. Those organisations linked to the Administration have an average ILN of 81%; on the other hand, a lawyer’s office which belongs in this sector, but is, nonetheless, a business, has an ILN of just 6%. Four observations were made of the public bodies, and just one of workers in the legal profession.

6.2. Health and Social Welfare Institutions

Figure 5. Health and Social Welfare Institutions

The Health and Social Welfare Institutions sector, with an index below the threshold level (55), when analysed by sub sectors, shows a difference of 20 points at either extreme. Those healthcare institutions (hospitals, clinics, friendly associations etc.) where we have worked and continue to work, demonstrate behaviour typical of businesses - very similar to that displayed by the Private Companies sub sector.

6.3. The Socio-Economic sphere

Figure 6. The Socio-Economic sphere

In the Socio-Economic sphere there are two sub sectors that fall within the high ILN block, (they are those that could be easily assimilated into public institutions - the Professional associations and the Public companies).The Private companies, on the other hand, were 27 points below the Professional associations, and 33 points below the Public companies.

7. First and last observations of all sectors

Figure 7. First and last observation by sector

The bodies shown in the graph are the subtotal of organisations where three or more observations have been made, i.e. where they have been working to extend the use and knowledge of Catalan over more than 2 years.

The ILN grew by a similar extent in the ‘Socio-economic’ and in the ‘Health and Social Welfare’ sectors (by about 15 points). And the area which showed the largest increase was in organisations within the Official usage sphere. The ‘Socio-economic’ (and related areas) sector is the one that showed slowest growth in achieving the set objectives.

7.1. The Socio-economic sphere

Figure 8. The Socio-economic sphere

If we study the ILN in the sub-sectors of this area, we can see how ‘Professional associations’ and ‘Public companies’ have grown by 10 and 14 points respectively, and have achieved a high level in the use of Catalan. On the other hand, ‘Private businesses’, which began with a very low ILN, has increased by 15 points and is now on the threshold of normalisation. We can see that the higher the ILN to begin with, the lower the relative growth - this behaviour is similar to that shown by the index of knowledge of Catalan which has been observed in censuses and town hall registrations.