Why is Catalan so important to the Catalan people?
Catalan is just as important to the Catalans as any other language is to its speakers. Catalans know how to speak Spanish, but many of them prefer to use Catalan. Why? Normally, people prefer to speak the language that they feel most comfortable with, and many Catalans feel more comfortable speaking Catalan (the language they grew up speaking) than Spanish (a language they learned later in life). The same thing happens with the members of the European Parliament: they know how to speak English and probably French, but they prefer to use their own language-German, Danish or Italian, for example-when speaking before the parliament, for the simple reason that it is easier for them to speak than any other. However, even if the German, Danish or Italian MEPs spoke perfect English, they would probably still want to use their own language, which they consider a symbol of their cultural identity. The same goes for the Catalan people. Their language is the most visible symbol of Catalan nationa
