This article refers to both the Catalans as an ethnic group and to those speakers of the
Catalan language who may not be identified as being Catalan. The Catalans are an
ethnic group or
nationality whose
homeland is
Catalonia, or the
Principality of Catalonia (
Catalan: Catalunya, or Principat de Catalunya), which is a
historical region in southern
Europe, embracing a territory situated in the north-east of
Spain and an adjoining portion of southern
France. It is divided between the
autonomous communities of
Catalonia and
Aragon (in a
borderland called
La Franja) in
Spain, and
Northern Catalonia in
France (due to the
Treaty of the Pyrenees of
1659). In addition, there are other adjacent and nearby
Mediterranean areas which are home to Catalan speakers. These areas include:
Andorra, a small historical country in the
Pyrenees, the
Land of Valencia, the
Balearic Islands and
El Carxe (a Catalan-speaking region of
Murcia) in
Spain as a result of the
Reconquista and the
city of
L'Alguer in the
Italian island of
Sardinia due to the
Catalan rule of the
Mediterranean during the ages of the
Crown of Aragon. All these territories make up what is known as the
Catalan Countries. Most understand the
Catalan language, the majority can speak it but only a part of the population can write it, and today all of them also speak the official language of their respective states. However the penetration and importance of the Catalan language is steadily increasing, especially due to the fact that the main language for education is Catalan.
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