It's not true about the water in Majorca

It's not true about the wáter in Majorca

 

 

We've just returned from a holiday in Mallorca, which is pronounced 'madge orka', believe it or not. I know it sounds a bit naff but in 'mallorquín' that's how you say it. . Mallorca and Majorca are not two different places after all.

Spain has only one official language, 'Castellano' (Castilian) which is the first language of nearly 90% of Spaniards.

There are other co-official languages
Catalán
Valenciano
Euskera (Basque)
Gallego (Galician
which are spoken in schools and colleges in these regions.

Mallorquín is very like catalán,the co-official language of the islands (you can upset people by saying this) and is currently under threat from media broadcasts which are in catalán or castellano.

 

Balearic nationalism

 

 

There are other languages spoken in Spain too.  Aragonese, Asturian and Leonese are 'recognised' but not official.  Andalusian and Canarian are only classed as dialects.

 

In Palma, the capital of the Balearic Islands, everyone seems to speak 'Spanish' (castellano) or English or German,  Away from the capital and the beach resorts nearby you will hear mallorquín being spoken in the shops and between local residents. It sounds a bit like Spanish with a German accent which can be confusing as there are lots of Germans there too. Bar and café signs are often in German or English depending on where you are. Soller (Sodjer?) where we went is a favourite for German tourists and residents but further up the coast in Port Polença 90% of foreigners are Brits.
Mallorca was 'molt bon' (very good) but a bit cold.

It's gone a little chilly here in Álora, too; a cold wind from the north west.
The arctic chill has brought us inside to watch the telly. Britains's Got Talent seems to be very popular seeing as how it's on every night and has displaced Coronation Street., I'll give it a whirl. I'm sure that Britain does have talent so it sounds promising.
Ant and Dec, David Walliams, Simon Callow...what's not to like?

May 30th. 2013.