REGIONAL LANGUAGES AND LINGUISTIC POLICIES IN SPAIN AND FRANCE: DIVERSITY AND PROTECTIONISM

Abstract

This article examines the language policies of Spain and France to highlight how each country has managed its linguistic diversity, a crucial issue for national cohesion and cultural identity. The objective was to analyze how these policies affect regional identity and the rights of cultural minorities, as well as voting patterns in contexts where regional languages play a central role. A comparative methodology based on case studies from Catalonia, the Basque Country, and Corsica was used, combined with a discursive analysis of political and media narratives. The approach was qualitative, analyzing key documents such as constitutions, laws, decrees, and media articles. The sample included legal texts and relevant media discourses from both countries. The results indicate that, in Spain, the promotion of regional languages such as Catalan and Basque has reinforced regional identities, while in France, the protectionism of French has limited the recognition of languages such as Corsican and generated tensions over linguistic rights. These policies have significantly impacted both countries' social, political, and electoral cohesion.