CatalanSpanish

CatalanSpanish refers to the bilingual and diglossic linguistic environment in which Catalan and Spanish interact, especially in Catalonia, Valencia, and the Balearic Islands, as well as in emigrant communities. It covers phenomena such as code-switching, lexical borrowing, and the use of mixed forms in speech, writing, media, and everyday interaction. The term is used in sociolinguistic research rather than as a distinct language.

Catalan and Spanish are both Romance languages with shared Latin roots but are not mutually intelligible at a high level. Most speakers in Catalan-speaking areas acquire both languages, resulting in bilingual discourse that can alternate between languages within sentences or across utterances. In many contexts, Catalan holds an official or co-official status, while Spanish is also widely used in education, media, administration, and private life.

Policy and usage: Since the late 20th century, regional language policies in Spain have shaped the balance between Catalan and Spanish. Catalan has official status in Catalonia; Valencian is commonly treated as a variety of Catalan in the Valencian Community; the Balearic Islands recognize Catalan as an official language alongside Spanish in some domains. Education frequently uses Catalan for instruction in Catalonia, while Spanish remains a primary language in many national media outlets. Attitudes toward CatalanSpanish practices vary by community, generation, and urbanization.