Linguistic Normalization

LINGUISTIC NORMALIZATION FRANCESC VALLVERD~H E A D o F T H E LINGUISTIC DEPARTMENT OF TV3 he universally accepted view is grammes of the first channel (TVE1 l is and are interested in it on account of that, of al1 existing media, televi- undeniable proof of its true weight in what it "communicates". Osion has the most powerful and the field of communications. Thirdly, thanks to TV3, Catalonia now decisive impact on the development of It is too early yet to assess the influence has a more clearly-defined image as a a language, both "internally" (in terms of TV3 in the normalization of the Cata- national community, becoming thereby of linguistic change and standardiza- lan language, a process which, in legal more open to the outside world and tionl and "externally" (with respect to terms, derived momentum from the not more shut-off, Notwithstanding the the spread of the language and the ex- 1979 Estotut ¿'Autonomi0 (Catalan sta- possible shortcomings of certain pro- tent to which it is used in a given so- tute of self-governmentl and the 1983 grammes -a mass medium can hardly cietyl. Though rigorous research and Llei ¿e Normolitzoció Lingüístico (linguis- satisfy everybody!-, the existence of surveys to support this view are still lack- tic normalization lawl. -~urthermore,it TV3 has reinforced the identity of Cata- ing, it is amply borne out by everyday was not until the second quarter of lonia in its relationship with Spain and experience. Thus, focusing our attention 1985 that TV3 was in a position to offer the rest of the world. (One minor but on the case of Catalan, we can easily sixty hours of programmes a week. I will significant fact; since the coming of TV3 demonstrate that the decisive stage in endeavour, nonetheless, to put forward many advertisers have realized that the the process of Castilianization was certain conclusions as to the role of te- "Catalan market" is differentiated by reached, not during the 1940s when levision in the sociocultural field. something more than sales figures.) political repression was at its severest In the first place the very existence of Finally, where the language itself is con- and most widespread, but in the 1960s, TV3 is a sign of "normality" which must cerned, TV3 has succeeded in spread- when repression had died down and of necessity lend new vitality to Catalan ing a model of Catalan which, though Televisión Española was establishing culture. When a powerful medium like possibly open to criticism in some res- itself and expanding fast. television starts operating, other areas pects, is basically effective. It is true that There was already television in Cata- of information and culture (the press, one occasionally hears somewhat slip- lan in the days of Franco (a few pro- publishing, the theatre and cinema, vi- shod speech and that the standard of grammes in Catalan were being broad- deo, song, etc.1 receive direct or indi- Catalan still leaves room for improve- cast from the Barcelona studios of Tele- rect stimulation. ment: care must be taken to correct visión Española in the 1970s) but they Secondly, the growth of TV3 has helped these failings and ensure they do not catered to such a small audience and to modify certain negative linguistic atti- recur. But it must also be remembered were so infrequent that one cannot talk tudes that were very firmly entrenched. that the root of the trouble often lies in about the true impact of television in One important achievement is that the highly contradictory and badly de- Catalan until the appearance of TV3 in many Catalan speakers have discovered teriorated over-al1 sociolinguistic situa- 1983. Not until then did television in that the same things can be done in tion itself. Catalan take on the characteristics of a Catalan as in Castilian. And many Cas- In short, though the full impact of TV3 on mass medium: the fact that TV3, accor- tilian-speakers have had the opportu- linguistic normalization in Catalonia ding to the ratings, has far outstripped nity to increase their passive knowledge cannot yet be measured, it is safe to Televisión Española's second channel of Catalan, as a result of which they say that without TV3 the process could (TVE21 and is competing with the pro- now understand the language better not have gone ahead. O .

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