Aragonês

Aragonés is a Romance language spoken in the Aragon region of northeastern Spain. It is also known by several other names, including fabla, and sometimes as chistabino, ansotano, or benasqués, depending on the specific dialect. Aragonés is considered an endangered language, with a decreasing number of speakers, though efforts are being made to preserve and revitalize it.

Historically, Aragonés was once a widespread language across Aragon and even extended into Catalonia and the Basque Country. Its decline began with the rise of Castilian Spanish as the dominant language of administration and education. Despite its reduced status, Aragonés retains a distinct linguistic identity with its own grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation, differing from its neighboring Romance languages.

There are several dialectal variations of Aragonés, broadly categorized into Western, Central, and Eastern groups. These dialects can exhibit significant differences, sometimes making mutual intelligibility a challenge. The most spoken dialects include the Chistabín dialect in the Gistaín valley and the Ansotano dialect in the Ansó valley.

The Aragonese Academy (Academia de la Lengua Aragonesa) works towards the standardization and promotion of the language. While official recognition and use in education and media remain limited, there is a growing awareness and interest in its preservation among some communities and linguistic enthusiasts. Many efforts focus on teaching the language to younger generations and documenting its variations.