MÉS per Mallorca has proposed recovering the figure of language dynamizers in the Consell to strengthen the social use of Catalan.
In a press release, and in the face of the «concerning» situation of «reversal of the social use of Catalan in Mallorca», the MÉS group in the Consell has presented a motion that will be debated at this week’s plenary session with the aim of recovering the figure of language dynamizers. The proposal also includes the promotion of a strategic plan for language dynamization and active collaboration with town councils, entities, schools, and companies.
According to the spokesperson for MÉS in the Consell, Jaume Alzamora, this initiative is «an essential step to guarantee linguistic rights equality and to prevent Catalan from becoming a residual language in many areas of daily life.»
The motion by the ecosovereigntists is based on the latest data from the Balearic Islands Language Use Survey (Eulib), as well as sociolinguistic studies indicating a significant decrease in the regular use of Catalan, especially among young people and in areas such as leisure, commerce, and interpersonal relationships.
MÉS has considered that this situation is not due to inertia, but «a direct consequence of the lack of a brave, coherent, and sustained language policy.»
Alzamora has denounced that «the elimination of the figure of language dynamizers has been one of the clearest examples of this progressive dismantling of the insular language policy.»
These professionals, according to MÉS, carried out a fundamental task of promotion, awareness, and linguistic support in direct contact with citizens, entities, and local institutions. They worked from the territory and adapted actions to the reality of each municipality, promoting the social presence and prestige of Catalan.
For this reason, MÉS has advocated for the language dynamization model as an effective, close, and adaptable tool. «We are talking about a resource with the capacity to directly impact the social use of Catalan, to work hand in hand with town councils, schools, and associations to ensure that the language of Mallorca has a real and active presence everywhere,» Alzamora stated.
The spokesperson for MÉS in the Consell also pointed out that the need for this type of intervention is even more urgent in the current context of an increase in newly arrived population with diverse linguistic and cultural profiles. «Catalan must be a language of welcome, inclusion, and opportunities. To make this possible, specific and professional actions are needed to enable implementation and normalization, not just empty institutional declarations,» added the ecosovereigntist.
In this sense, the motion submitted by MÉS contains three specific proposals. On the one hand, it proposes to recover the figure of language dynamizers within the structure of the Consell, with the necessary resources to act throughout the island. On the other hand, it suggests developing a strategic plan for language dynamization, with specific actions for different groups – youth, newcomers, companies, etc. – and with mechanisms for periodic evaluation. And finally, it urges the insular institution to promote collaboration between institutions, schools, entities, and companies to jointly promote the social use of Catalan as a tool for cohesion, equality, and coexistence.
For Alzamora, this proposal not only seeks to defend the Catalan language but also «a fairer, more cohesive, and more plural society project.» «Supporting Catalan means guaranteeing that anyone living in Mallorca has the opportunity to make the language their own and incorporate it as part of their life project,» emphasized the spokesperson for MÉS in the Consell.
Finally, the ecosovereigntist has called on all political forces in the Consell to support this motion: «Now more than ever, we must set aside excuses and take action. We cannot remain indifferent to the loss of use of a language that is the heritage of all and a tool for the future.»