“Catalan has never been taught in the workplace” / “Why is it easier to speak English than Catalan at work?”

by time news

BarcelonaWhat language is spoken in companies, on the assembly line or at the reception? Data on language⁤ use ‌in the workplace has been sparse and ‍generic, and​ often marked by biases⁢ and intuitions. The⁢ UGT has drawn up a first study which allows it to interact with 935 trade union delegates from all⁢ over the territory and‍ from ‍all working areas. And it⁢ follows ⁢that bilingual use is ⁤by far⁣ the most widespread at work⁣ (72%), but with ⁣a predominance of ‍Spanish, a ⁣difference that ⁢widens radically in metropolitan regions. If the ‍bad ​news is ⁣that Catalan is a minority in certain ‌working ​environments, the good news ‍is that it ‌is practically always present: 85% ⁢of ⁤the people interviewed say ‍they⁢ use Catalan at work and 95% say they can speak it. This⁣ is why ‌another‌ surprising fact ‌is: 50% would like to improve their ‍knowledge of Catalan.

If ‍we look at the global data, 41% of delegates say they use Spanish more at work, 35% use Catalan more, 18% are bilingual and 5% have other‌ language combinations. Only 10% and 13% use Catalan and Spanish exclusively respectively, which shows that ‌bilingualism is predominant.

But there are two⁢ factors​ that ⁣divide the⁣ sample: work sectors and territory. In industry only 27% of people ‌regularly use Catalan, while in the services, mobility ​and ‌consumer sectors the percentage​ drops to ​23%; ​in both cases, almost half use‌ Spanish more. However, ⁤if we ⁣look at the public⁤ sector, 54% of delegates use Catalan more.

The other big difference derives from the ⁣territorial scope, which records very unequal‍ uses.⁢ In the Baix Llobregat,‍ Vallès Occidental, Vallès Oriental, ​in the neighborhoods of Camp de Tarragona and⁢ in​ the‌ city of Barcelona, ​​​less than 30% of the delegates predominantly speak Catalan, with a minimum ⁢in L’Hospitalet, where‌ 12% ‍speak⁣ it normally. At the⁤ other extreme, in ‌areas such as the ⁢north of⁣ Barcelonès, the⁤ regions of Girona, Osona, the Ebro and the lands​ of Lleida, the predominant use of Catalan rises from 40% to 70%. The territorial ⁣difference is a constant that has persisted since​ the 1970s: “The ‍fracture is ⁤deep-rooted, with an immigrant workforce ⁣in the metropolitan area that usually does not speak Catalan,” ‌says Amado Alarcón. The⁣ study ‍was conducted by the⁢ economist Antonio Di Paolo of the‍ University of ‌Barcelona and the sociologist Amado Alarcón of the Rovira i Virgili University on the ⁤basis of anonymous and voluntary ​surveys, ‌to which 8% of the organization’s trade⁢ union delegates responded

Who trains the workers?

So far the ⁢administration has⁢ focused⁣ on ⁣training adults outside ⁢working hours (a training that is saturated ‍and ‌does not meet demand). What the UGT proposes is⁢ a ⁢“chip change” so that language training is ​treated as equivalent to ‍any professional training and is offered during working hours. “Catalan has never been taught in the ⁣workplace,” says Camil Ros, general secretary of the UGT in ⁢Catalonia.

According to the​ study, ⁤56% of delegates would be interested⁣ in ​taking a course in‍ person during working hours. “When the company installs a new machine and explains​ to‌ us how it works, it does ⁤so ⁤during the working day. If⁤ Catalan is a productive and service tool, it must be like the rest of the training. We must have the latest technology and the ⁤most people educated as possible, and this will make companies more competitive”, observes Ros. The union underlines that cuts in the public sector and the precariousness‌ of the‌ private sector also affect the language; for example in fixed-term contracts in the healthcare sector, where ‌Catalan is optional. “The administration is now criticizing a situation ‍that it⁢ created,” he laments.

The union asks that, within​ the framework of the National Language ⁢Pact, ​a step be taken to improve the provision of Catalan ‌in‍ the company – “Why is ⁤it⁣ easier to speak English⁤ or Russian than Catalan at work?”, ‌they ask -, which can be ⁤officially accredited and which has a greater ​presence‍ in professional training. ⁣”Workers⁢ have no reluctance‌ to⁢ learn‍ Catalan, on the contrary they ask for ​it,” says the general secretary of the‍ UGT. Citizens are also asking for it, complaining about language discrimination in the service sector.

Interview: Exploring Workplace Language Dynamics in Catalonia

Editor (Time.news): Welcome, Dr. Amado Alarcón, noted​ sociologist from Rovira i Virgili University and co-author of the recent UGT study on language use in the workplace. It’s a pleasure to have you with⁤ us to unpack these significant findings.

Amado Alarcón: Thank you for having me. ⁣It’s great to ⁤be here ⁤and discuss the nuances of⁣ language in the professional​ environment.

Editor: Let’s dive right in. Your study shows that bilingualism is predominant‌ in Catalonia’s workplace, with 72% of respondents identifying as bilingual. Can you elaborate on the ⁢implications of ⁤this⁤ finding for both employers and employees?

Amado: Absolutely. The predominance of bilingualism indicates a flexible linguistics environment that can enhance communication and collaboration across diverse teams. Employers should recognize that supporting both Spanish and Catalan reflects inclusivity and boosts morale among employees. Meanwhile, employees‌ can benefit from leveraging both languages‍ in ‍their work, which can enhance career opportunities and advancement.

Editor: That’s insightful. However, the study ⁢reveals a disparity in language use across different sectors. For instance, only 27%‌ of⁣ companies in the industrial sector regularly⁢ use Catalan.⁢ What do you think‌ accounts ​for this variation?

Amado: ‍ The differences largely stem from the sector’s nature and its workforce demographics. The industrial sector, for ‌example,⁤ often has a higher ⁢proportion of workers‍ from outside Catalonia, who‍ may not​ be fluent in Catalan. In‍ contrast, the public sector employs a workforce that tends to be more engaged with the ⁢Catalan ⁣language, as‌ evident from the 54% who predominantly use it​ at work. This situation illustrates a broader cultural and ⁢social landscape that ‍we must ‍navigate.

Editor: Speaking of demographics,⁢ your research highlights significant‍ territorial disparities—like the 12% use of Catalan in L’Hospitalet versus 40-70% in other areas like Girona or Osona. What do these disparities ⁤suggest about the integration⁢ of language within communities?

Amado: This segmentation is critical. The historical context of immigration in metropolitan regions contributes ​to these ‍figures;⁤ many newcomers⁣ may‌ not speak Catalan, ‍affecting its prevalence in workplaces. This ⁤fracture has persisted since the 1970s ⁣and underscores the‌ importance of​ creating inclusive programs that promote the Catalan language throughout various communities—both in terms of understanding and respect for the culture.

Editor: You also mention‌ that ⁤there’s a noteworthy desire among the workforce to ​improve⁢ their knowledge of Catalan—50%‌ of ​respondents expressed this​ interest. What does⁢ this​ suggest about workplace culture and opportunities‍ for professional development?

Amado: The interest in improving Catalan language skills is a positive sign that employees value​ cultural​ and linguistic connections in their professional environments. It suggests there’s an opportunity for⁣ companies to‌ invest in language training‌ programs—both to meet worker demand and to cultivate a more cohesive ⁤organizational ⁣culture. Upskilling in language‍ can‌ lead ⁣to greater ‍job satisfaction and retention ‌rates.

Editor: The UGT advocates for improved adult training, particularly during work hours. How do⁣ you envision implementing such training to meet the ⁣demand?

Amado: The key is collaboration between employers, government, and educational institutions. By integrating language training within the work⁢ schedule, businesses can create‍ an accessible learning⁣ path for employees. This approach alleviates the burden of after-hours learning and allows for ⁣immediate ‍application of skills⁤ in ‌the workplace. It would require ‌commitment and resources from all stakeholders, but the potential benefits for⁤ workplace‌ cohesion and productivity are substantial.

Editor: Thank you, Dr. Alarcón, ‍for your valuable insights! It seems​ we​ have a complex but optimistic landscape ⁤regarding language use in workplaces across Catalonia.

Amado: Thank⁤ you! It has ⁢been a pleasure discussing ​this important topic, and I’m hopeful that⁤ with the right‍ actions, we can ​foster a more inclusive linguistic environment‌ in our⁤ professional spaces.

Editor: We appreciate your time today, and we look ⁣forward to seeing how ​these findings can lead to positive changes in⁢ workplace culture.

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