Valencian

Valencian refers to the variety of the Catalan language spoken in the Valencian Community of Spain. Linguists typically classify it as a standard variety or dialect of Catalan rather than a distinct language, though it has regional features and vocabulary that set it apart from other Catalan varieties.

It is spoken mainly in the Valencian Community, where Valencian and Spanish are co-official languages in education, administration, and public life. Signage, media, and government communications commonly use Valencian, and it is taught in schools alongside Spanish.

Norms for Valencian orthography and vocabulary are maintained by the Acadèmia Valenciana de la Llengua (AVL). The Valencian norms align with the broader Catalan standard developed by the Institut d'Estudis Catalans (IEC), while incorporating regionally characteristic forms and usages.

The language is called valencià in Valencian; the Spanish term is valenciano. The word Valencian can also refer to people from Valencia (València) or to things associated with the city or region. Geographically, the Valencian Community is distinct from Catalonia but forms part of the Catalan-speaking area, sharing historical and cultural ties with other Catalan varieties and maintaining mutual intelligibility with them.