Borne before the Moone: A Social and Political History of Basque at the Dawn of the Twentieth Century

Abstract

This study explores how Basque was perceived at the start of the twentieth century. Utilizing contemporary periodicals, pamphlets and books as a foundation, the discourse surrounding Basque has been analyzed for thematic content and for its articulation to the linguistic, political, social and cultural context of the Basque Country at the turn of the century. The study¿s main argument is that Basque was perceived across all aforementioned spheres as something that existed outside modernity. For progressives, this condition was a negative for the manner in which it blocked Basque speakers from access to modern ideas and ways of life. Conservatives, by contrast, but for the same reasons, viewed Basque¿s non-modern status as a positive.