Occitan (post 1500)

Occitan

Pronunciation
Native to
Region	Occitania
Ethnicity
Speakers	1.5 million
Language family	Indo-European
Early forms
Writing system
Official status
Regulated by

Occitan (occitan or lenga d'òc) is a Romance language spoken in southern France, Italy, and Spain. It is part of the Occitano-Romance branch of the Gallo-Romance languages.

History

Occitan has a rich history dating back to the early Middle Ages. It was the language of the troubadours, poets who composed in the langue d'oc during the 12th and 13th centuries. The language flourished in the region known as Occitania, which includes parts of modern-day southern France, Italy's Occitan Valleys, and the Aran Valley in Spain.

Post-1500 Developments

After 1500, Occitan experienced a decline in status and usage due to political and cultural changes. The French language began to dominate as the official language of France, and Occitan was increasingly marginalized. Despite this, the language continued to be spoken by rural populations and maintained a presence in literature and music.

Dialects

Occitan is not a monolithic language but consists of several dialects. The main dialects include:

• Provençal
• Gascon
• Languedocien
• Limousin
• Auvergnat
• Vivaro-Alpine

Each dialect has its own unique features and variations, but they are mutually intelligible to a large extent.

Phonology

Occitan phonology is characterized by its vowel system, which includes nasal vowels similar to those in French. Consonant clusters and palatalization are also notable features.

Vowels

Occitan has a rich vowel inventory, including:

• Front vowels: /i/, /e/, /ɛ/
• Central vowels: /a/, /ə/
• Back vowels: /u/, /o/, /ɔ/
• Nasal vowels: /ã/, /ẽ/, /õ/

Consonants

The consonant system includes:

• Stops: /p/, /b/, /t/, /d/, /k/, /g/
• Fricatives: /f/, /v/, /s/, /z/, /ʃ/, /ʒ/
• Nasals: /m/, /n/, /ɲ/
• Laterals: /l/, /ʎ/
• Trills: /r/

Grammar

Occitan grammar shares many features with other Romance languages but also has its own distinct characteristics.

Nouns

Nouns in Occitan have gender (masculine or feminine) and number (singular or plural). The definite article varies according to gender and number:

• Masculine singular: lo
• Feminine singular: la
• Plural: los (masculine), las (feminine)

Verbs

Verbs are conjugated according to tense, mood, and person. The main tenses include present, past, and future, with indicative, subjunctive, and imperative moods.

Adjectives

Adjectives agree in gender and number with the nouns they modify. They typically follow the noun.

Literature

Occitan literature has a long and distinguished history, beginning with the troubadours of the medieval period. In the post-1500 era, Occitan literature continued to develop, with notable authors such as Frédéric Mistral, who won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1904.

Current Status

Today, Occitan is recognized as a regional language in France and has official status in the Aran Valley of Spain. Efforts to revitalize the language include educational programs, media broadcasts, and cultural initiatives.

See also

• Occitania
• Langue d'oc
• Troubadour
• Frédéric Mistral