Asturianu

Asturianu, also known as asturianu and historically as bable, is a Romance language of the Western Ibero-Romance group. It is spoken primarily in the autonomous community of Asturias in northern Spain, with smaller communities in adjacent provinces and among the Spanish and international diaspora. It is considered part of the region’s linguistic heritage and is promoted by regional law and cultural institutions, though it does not have nationwide co-official status.

Asturianu descended from Latin and evolved under the influence of neighboring Romance varieties, especially Galician and Castilian. It comprises several dialects, commonly categorized into Western and Eastern varieties, and is often referred to in older sources as bable. The language is written in the Latin alphabet, and a standardized orthography—developed and promoted by the Academia de la Llingua Asturiana (ALLA)—is used in education, media, and publishing.

The linguistic community is diverse in size and vitality; estimates of speakers vary depending on criteria, but usage is strongest in rural areas and among older speakers, while younger speakers are frequently bilingual in Spanish. Public policy in Asturias supports language promotion through regional law, educational programs, and cultural activity, contributing to ongoing efforts to normalize Asturianu in public life.