You were probably reading Catalan. Outside Spain, it is the official language of Andorra. So, let’s deconstruct the myths, and find out the facts. But not all Spanish is the same. Catalan evolved directly from common Latin.
“Castilian Spanish” simply refers to a standard kind of Spanish language, or more precisely, the purest kind of Spanish accent. If you are marrying a Catalan person, and their family only speaks Catalan, you might want to make that your top priority! The term “Castilian” actually refers to the province of Castile in central Spain.
Some Catalan speakers consider Spanish their first language, and Catalan the second.
Therefore you’ll find road signs and other important public information always provided in two languages and most people in Catalonia speak Castilian Spanish anyway. Both. In those cases where people feel strongly about Catalan independence, most are only interested in a pacific, democratic debate, albeit it sometimes a passionate one. As a blanket generalisation this is not true. = ¿Hablas inglés? There are many other forms but they are spoken by smaller amounts of people.
What Spanish is spoken in Barcelona - Catalan Vs Castilian? With many articles floating around the internet, it’s not always easy to determine whether Barcelona is the right place to study Spanish. During the dictatorship, the teaching and speaking of Catalan was not allowed (though obviously people still used it in secret at home). 'pepino' vs 'cocombre' (cucumber) or 'bocadillo' vs 'emparedado' (sandwich). And the origins of Castilian Spanish vs Catalan are already diverse.
Which one is used depends mainly on the region of Spain where we are. Well, It is also spoken in some parts of France and Italy. It is said that the Spanish language in its most original form comes from there.
The fact remains that a vast number of Catalans identify themselves as being Spanish, many feel proud to be both Spanish and Catalan at the same time and equally many believe that Catalonia is an integral part of the whole country. In Barcelona, 98% of the population speaks Castilian Spanish. You may be wondering, 'is Catalan Spanish?'. Through education and active promotion Catalan people are encouraged to speak the language in order to keep it alive. Later on, when you get to a more proficient standard, and especially if you’re considering living and working in Barcelona, learning at least some Catalan on top of Spanish is probably a good idea. Catalan and Spanish but also Portuguese, Italian, French and Romanian are all cousin languages. Valencian and Catalan languages have no any difference, except that Valencian is the old name of Catalan. For foreign students, the Castilian Spanish accent is the easiest kind to understand. In a very small number of cases, Catalan speakers speak no other languages at all, not even Spanish. Catalan is a language spoken in three regions of Spain: Catalonia, Valencia and the Balearic Islands. So unless you personal or professional needs dictate it, in the long term, Spanish may be the more useful language, especially if you’re planning to travel, study or work in Spanish-speaking countries, or get involved with Spanish-speaking business or communities in your own country. In Barcelona, Spanish and Catalan newspapers, books, television channels, art and culture also exist side by side, so that people can choose the language they prefer. Because the region of Catalonia has two official languages, you will see Catalan alongside Spanish on road signs, in shop advertisements and in the media.