Editing Catalan language (section)

== Etymology and pronunciation {{Anchor|Etymology and pronunciation}} ==
{{Main|Catalonia#Etymology and pronunciation}}

The word ''Catalan'' is derived from the territorial name of [[Catalonia]], itself of disputed etymology. The main theory suggests that {{lang|ca|Catalunya}} ({{langx|la|Gathia Launia}}) derives from the name {{lang|la|Gothia}} or {{lang|la|Gauthia}} ('Land of the [[Goths]]'), since the origins of the Catalan counts, lords and people were found in the [[March of Gothia]], whence ''Gothland'' > ''Gothlandia'' > ''Gothalania'' > ''Catalonia'' theoretically derived.{{sfn|García Venero|2006}}{{sfn|Burke|1900|p=154}}

In English, the term referring to a person first appears in the mid 14th century as ''Catelaner'', followed in the 15th century as {{lang|frm|Catellain}} (from [[Middle French]]). It is attested a language name since at least 1652. The word ''Catalan'' can be pronounced in English as {{IPAc-en|ˈ|k|æ|t|ə|l|ə|n|,_|-|æ|n}} {{respell|KAT|ə|lən|,_|-|lan}} or {{IPAc-en|ˌ|k|æ|t|ə|ˈ|l|æ|n}} {{respell|KAT|ə|LAN}}.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Catalan |title=Definition of Catalan |date=16 August 2023 |access-date=29 September 2020 |archive-date=10 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210510200230/https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Catalan |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="dictionary.reference.com">{{Cite dictionary |url=https://www.dictionary.com/browse/catalan |title=Catalan |dictionary=Dictionary.com |access-date=28 August 2022 |archive-date=28 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220828073000/https://www.dictionary.com/browse/catalan |url-status=live}}</ref>

The [[endonym]] is pronounced {{IPA|ca|kətəˈla|}} in the Eastern Catalan dialects, and {{IPA|ca|kataˈla|}} in the Western dialects. In the [[Valencian Community]] and [[Carche]], the term {{lang|ca|valencià}} {{IPA|ca-valencia|valensiˈa|}} is frequently used instead. Thus, the name "Valencian", although often employed for referring to the varieties specific to the Valencian Community and Carche, is also used by Valencians as a name for the language as a whole,<ref name="AVL-9_feb_2005">{{cite web |author=Acadèmia Valenciana de la Llengua |date=9 February 2005 |title=Acord de l'Acadèmia Valenciana de la Llengua (AVL), adoptat en la reunió plenària del 9 de febrer del 2005, pel qual s'aprova el dictamen sobre els principis i criteris per a la defensa de la denominació i l'entitat del valencià |pages=52 |language=ca-valencia |url=http://www.avl.gva.es/va/acords-AVL/main/03/document/NOMENTITAT.pdf |access-date=16 February 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923181117/http://www.avl.gva.es/va/acords-AVL/main/03/document/NOMENTITAT.pdf |archive-date=23 September 2015}}</ref> synonymous with "Catalan".{{sfn|Lledó|2011|pp=334–337}}<ref name="AVL-9_feb_2005" /> Both uses of the term have their respective entries in the dictionaries by the ''[[Acadèmia Valenciana de la Llengua]]'' (AVL)<ref group="note" name="DNV_AVL_1">The ''Valencian Normative Dictionary'' of the Valencian Academy of the Language states that Valencian is a "Romance language spoken in the Valencian Community, as well as in Catalonia, the Balearic Islands, the French department of the {{lang|fr|Pyrénées-Orientales}}, the Principality of Andorra, the eastern flank of Aragon and the Sardinian town of Alghero (unique in Italy), where it receives the name of 'Catalan'".</ref> and the ''[[Institut d'Estudis Catalans]]'' (IEC).<ref group="note" name="IEC">The ''Catalan Language Dictionary'' of the Institut d'Estudis Catalans states in the sixth definition of "Valencian" that, in the Valencian Community, it is equivalent to Catalan language.</ref> (See also [[#Status of Valencian|status of Valencian]] below).