Editing Basque language (section)

=== Official status ===
[[File:Navarra - Zonificacion linguistica.png|thumb|Official status of the Basque language in Navarre]]

Historically, Latin or Romance languages have been the official languages in this region. However, Basque was explicitly recognised in some areas. For instance, the ''[[fuero]]'' or charter of the Basque-colonised [[Ojacastro]] (now in [[La Rioja (Spain)|La Rioja]]) allowed the inhabitants to use Basque in legal processes in the 13th and 14th centuries. Basque was allowed in telegraph messages in Spain thanks to the royal decree of 1904.<ref>The first telegraph message in Basque was sent by [[Teodoro de Arana y Beláustegui]], at the time a deputy to the Cortes from Gipuzkoa, to Ondarroa; it read: {{lang|eu|Aitorreu hizcuntz ederrean nere lagun eta erritarrai bistz barrengo eroipenac}} ({{Translation|heartfelt regards to my friends and compatriots in the wonderful language of Aitor}}), ''[https://prensahistorica.mcu.es/es/catalogo%20imagenes/grupo.do?path=3043892&posicion=2&presentacion=pagina Diario de Reus]'' 26.06.04</ref>

The [[Spanish Constitution of 1978]] states in Article 3 that the [[Spanish language]] is the official language of the nation, but allows autonomous communities to provide a co-official language status for the other [[languages of Spain]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tribunalconstitucional.es/es/constitucion/Paginas/ConstitucionIngles.aspx#I2 |title=Spanish Constitution |publisher=Spanish Constitutional Court |access-date=2013-06-08 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130620064544/http://www.tribunalconstitucional.es/es/constitucion/Paginas/ConstitucionIngles.aspx#I2 |archive-date=20 June 2013}}</ref> Consequently, the Statute of Autonomy of the [[Basque Country (autonomous community)|Basque Autonomous Community]] establishes Basque as the co-official language of the autonomous community. The Statute of Navarre establishes Spanish as the official language of Navarre, but grants co-official status to the Basque language in the Basque-speaking areas of northern Navarre. Basque has no official status in the French Basque Country and French citizens are barred from officially using Basque in a French court of law. However, the use of Basque by Spanish nationals in French courts is permitted (with translation), as Basque is officially recognised on the other side of the border.

The positions of the various existing governments differ with regard to the promotion of Basque in areas where Basque is commonly spoken. The language has official status in those territories that are within the Basque Autonomous Community, where it is spoken and promoted heavily, but only partially in Navarre. The {{Lang|es|Ley del Vascuence}} ({{Gloss|Law of Basque}}), seen as contentious by many Basques, but considered fitting Navarra's linguistic and cultural diversity by some of the main political parties of Navarre,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.diariodenavarra.es/20110217/navarra/el-parlamento-rechaza-ley-hacer-oficial-euskera-toda-navarra.html?not=2011021711344312&idnot=2011021711344312&dia=20110217&seccion=navarra&seccion2=politica&chnl=10 |title=Navarrese Parliament rejects to grant Basque Language co-official status in Spanish-speaking areas by suppressing the linguistic delimitation |publisher=[[Diario de Navarra]] |date=16 February 2011 |access-date=2013-06-11 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140706214023/http://www.diariodenavarra.es/20110217/navarra/el-parlamento-rechaza-ley-hacer-oficial-euskera-toda-navarra.html?not=2011021711344312&idnot=2011021711344312&dia=20110217&seccion=navarra&seccion2=politica&chnl=10 |archive-date=6 July 2014}}</ref> divides Navarre into three language areas: Basque-speaking, non-Basque-speaking, and mixed. Support for the language and the linguistic rights of citizens vary, depending on the area. Others consider it unfair, since the rights of Basque speakers differ greatly depending on the place they live.