| − | The '''Catalan language''' is the official language of [[Andorra]]. It is also widely spoken in the [[Catalonia]] and [[Valencia]] regions of [[Spain]], the extreme southeast of [[France]], and parts of the [[Italy|Italian]] [[island]] of [[Sardinia]]. Because of its prevalance in Valencia, it is also known as the Valencian language. It is closely related to the [[Occitan language]] of southern [[France]]. | + | The '''Catalan language''' is a [[Romance language]]. It is the official language of [[Andorra]]. It is also widely spoken in the [[Catalonia]] (Cat: ''Catalunya'') and [[Valencia]] regions of [[Spain]], the extreme southwest of [[France]], and parts of the [[Italy|Italian]] [[island]] of [[Sardinia]]. Because of its prevalence in Valencia, it is also known as the Valencian language. It is closely related to the [[Occitan language]]. |
| − | [[Category:Romance languages]] | + | The [[dictator]] [[Francisco Franco]] tried to suppress the Catalan language in Spain during the mid-twentieth century, but since his death and the restoration of [[democracy]] it has seen a resurgence, along with other regional languages such as [[Basque]] and [[Galician]]. |