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Catalan is a Romance language spoken by about 10 million people in the northeastern part of the Iberian Peninsula. Evolving from Latin during the Middle Ages, it shares some characteristics with Spanish and others with French. The language experienced a decline from the 16th Century until the 19th Century, when there was a literary revival. It also suffered under Spanish dictator Francisco Franco in the mid-20th Century. In June, when Rolling Stones’ singer Mick Jagger went on Spanish television to apologize for canceling concerts in Barcelona and three other cities in 2006, he made his remarks in Catalan.
Sources: North American Catalan Society,
Associated Press, gencat.net
