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 Catalan countries - Definition 

This article or section should be merged with Catalan independence

The term Catalan Countries (Catalan Països Catalans) refers to the concept of a single nation that would include all territories where the nationalists argue that the Catalan language is spoken. This concept first appeared in a book by Valencian writer Joan Fuster, Nosaltres els valencians ("Us, the Valencians") (1962) with a very strong sense of Catalonian identity. This concept is met with significant popular approval in Catalonia, peaceful indifference in the Balearic Islands and with resounding disapproval in the Valencian Community.

The Catalan Countries would include:

This territory does not coincide exactly with the places where Catalan is the native language. For example, in the north-western region of Catalonia known as Val d'Aran, a dialect of Occitan is spoken and considered the native language, although Spanish and Catalan are also spoken. In some western and south-western places in the Autonomous Community of Valencia, only Spanish is spoken. However, there are also some Catalan-speaking places outside the Catalan Countries, such as El Carxe in Murcia and the city of Alghero (L'Alguer) on the island of Sardinia.

The Catalan Countries are sometimes referred to as el pi de les tres branques (the three-branched pine, in catalan) for its territory can be roughly divided in three parts:

  • The former kingdom of Majorca
  • The former kingdom of Valencia
  • The former Catalonia, comprising the Rousillon, the franja de ponent, and the current Spanish autonomous community of Catalonia.

ca:Països Catalans es:Países catalanes sl:Katalonske države





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This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Catalan countries".