"It makes no sense to protect the landscape without the language": reproaches for the absence of Catalan in the Serra law

PalmPlataforma per la Llengua has submitted allegations to the draft bill for the regulation of the cultural landscape of the Serra de Tramuntana to demand that the regulations explicitly protect and promote the Catalan language.

In a press release made public this Thursday, the entity defends that the language is a "constituent" element of the cultural landscape and warns that the planned measures may be insufficient if they do not incorporate this dimension. Therefore, it has encouraged citizens to submit allegations before April 15 with the model and guide it has prepared.

Among the proposals, the Platform calls for the inclusion of linguistic clauses in public procurement and the establishment of a requirement for knowledge of Catalan for personnel involved in the management of the space. According to the entity, workers in surveillance, public service, or environmental education should demonstrate an "adequate" level of the language.

Furthermore, it asks that Catalan be the vehicular language in the provision of services, as well as in the signage and wayfinding of the space. It also considers that cultural, educational, sports, or tourist activities that receive institutional support in the Serra should use it as the main language.

The Platform argues that, in accordance with the UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, language is an essential part of cultural diversity and knowledge transmission. “It makes no sense to safeguard possessions, olive groves, or historic paths if the language that has given them their names and made their intergenerational transmission possible is not also protected,” they point out.

Finally, the entity criticizes that the text promoted by the Consell de Mallorca makes no explicit reference to the protection of its own language and considers that it deviates from the current legal framework on linguistic matters. Therefore, it insists that the new law should incorporate concrete measures to guarantee the presence and promotion of Catalan within this space declared a World Heritage site.