Benasqués

Benasqués is a dialect of Aragonese spoken in the valley of Benasque (Valle de Benasc) in the province of Huesca, Aragon, Spain. It is the easternmost Aragonese dialect and exhibits distinct linguistic features that set it apart from other varieties. Geographically, its area of use is confined to the municipality of Benasque, including its surrounding villages.

Historically, Benasqués has been influenced by neighboring Romance languages, particularly Catalan, due to historical and geographical proximity. This has led to a unique vocabulary and some grammatical particularities. Like other Aragonese dialects, it features a rich phonetic system, often retaining sounds that have evolved differently in other Romance languages.

The number of speakers of Benasqués has declined significantly over the past century, a common trend for many minority languages and dialects in Europe. Efforts are underway by linguistic researchers and local cultural associations to document, preserve, and promote the use of Benasqués. These initiatives aim to ensure its survival and pass on its linguistic heritage to future generations. Its unique place in the linguistic landscape of the Pyrenees makes it a subject of considerable interest to linguists studying Romance philology and language evolution.