Page Type: languageAsturian | Ethnologue

AST ISO 639-3

Asturian

Asturianu Autonym

A language of Spain

ISO 639
ast
Alternate Names
Astur-Leonese, Asturian-Leonese, Asturleonese
Autonym
Asturianu
Population
550,000 in Spain, all users. L1 users: 100,000 in Spain (Salminen 2007). 50,000 in Central Asturian, 30,000 in Western Asturian, 20,000 in Eastern Asturian. L2 users: 450,000 (1994 F. Botas). Ethnic population: 550,000 (1996). Total users in all countries: 560,000 (as L1: 110,000; as L2: 450,000).
Location:
Asturias, Castille and Leon autonomous communities.
Language Status
6b (Threatened).
Classification
Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Ibero-Romance, West Iberian, Asturo-Leonese
Dialects
Leonese (Lleones), Western Asturian, Central Asturian (Bable), Eastern Asturian, Montañes, Pasiegan (Pasiego, Pasiegu). As different from Spanish [spa] as Galician [glg] or Catalan [cat]; more different than Murcian and Andalusian dialects. About 80% intelligibility with Spanish (1989 R. Hall) enough to cause disruption of communicative ability (1992 T. Erickson). The Vaqueiros ethnic group speaks Western Asturian. Functional intelligibility among the 3 dialects. Reportedly similar to Mirandés [mwl] in Portugal. Leonese may be a separate language. Central Asturian is considered the model, and has the most speakers.
Language Use
Some young people, all adults. Some children learn the language in Asturias; in other regions speakers are mostly elderly (Salminen 2007). Also use Spanish [spa].
Language Development
Leonese associations promote their language variety. Dictionary. Grammar. NT: 1997.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Asturian
Writing
Latin script [Latn].
Other Comments
About 43% immigrated into the region from the south since the 1950s, and have not absorbed Asturian culture or language. There is literature, both popular and literary, since the 17th century; poetry, traditional ballads, and chivalric novels of oral tradition. The Academy of the Asturian Language formed in 1981 to revive the academy of the 18th century. Western Asturian may need orthography adaptation. Montañes is a Spanish dialect with Asturian influence.

Also Spoken in

Language Name
Asturian
User Population
10,000 in Portugal (Salminen 2007).
Location
Bragança district: Miranda do Douro and Vimioso municipalities, 2 towns.
Dialects
West Asturian, Central Asturian (Bable).
Language Status
6b (Threatened)
Other Comments
Literature since 17th century: poetry, traditional ballads, and chivalric novels of oral tradition. Although Academy of the Asturian Language formed in 1981, use in decline due to lack of government support due to overwhelming immigration into the region. Western Asturian may need orthography adaptation.
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Map

Location: Asturias, Castille and Leon autonomous communities.