occitán

Occitän is a term encountered in some sources to designate the Occitan language and the Occitan-speaking peoples of Occitania. Occitania is a historical-cultural zone spanning parts of southern France and extending into adjacent areas of Italy and Spain, where a Romance language known as Occitan has been spoken for centuries.

The Occitan language, also called Occitan or lenga d’oc, forms part of the Occitano-Romance branch of Romance languages. It comprises a number of dialects, the major ones being Languedocien, Provençal, Gascon, Limousin, Auvergnat and Vivaro-Alpin; regional varieties in Italy and the Aranese dialect in Catalonia are also associated with Occitan. Occitan uses the Latin alphabet, and there are several orthographic standards. A modern revival movement seeks to promote use in education, media and public life, alongside ongoing scholarly and cultural activity.

Geographically, Occitan has its strongest traditional presence in southern France. Smaller communities historically existed in border areas of Italy (Occitan valleys) and in Spain via Aranese, a variety spoken in the Val d’Aran that is co-official with Catalan in Catalonia. In France, Occitan is recognized as a regional language but does not have official status nationwide; Aranese enjoys official recognition in Catalonia, and there are regional efforts to preserve and teach Occitan in schools and cultural institutions.

Demographically, estimates of Occitan speakers vary, ranging from several hundred thousand to around a million, depending on whether dialects and second-language acquisition are counted. The language holds a rich literary and musical heritage dating from the medieval troubadours through contemporary movements and festivals. Institutions such as the Institut d'Estudis Occitans coordinate advocacy, standardization efforts and cultural programs.