The launch event for xarxa per la llengua took place at La Florida 6.0 and featured speeches from F. Xavier Vila, the conseller of Linguistic Policy; David Quirós, the mayor of Hospitalet; and Toni Mercadal, co-director of the Centre de Normalització Lingüística (CNL) of Hospitalet. They were joined by representatives from various local entities, educational centres, businesses, and community organisations.
During the event, Conseller Vila emphasised the importance of not only learning a language but also having opportunities to use it. He stated, “To make a language your own, it is not enough to learn it; you must also be able to use it. We need to create opportunities for knowledge to become practice, which in turn generates confidence. This is where xarxa per la llengua makes sense: we need different areas of everyday life to work together to promote the use of catalan, whether through sports, cultural activities, shopping, or interacting with neighbours.”
Mayor Quirós added that efforts must be combined to ensure that catalan is not just a language learned in schools but one that is spoken in public spaces, shops, schools, and workplaces. Mercadal highlighted that promoting the use of catalan is a shared responsibility that extends beyond the CNL's actions. He advocated for the involvement of various city stakeholders in xarxa per la llengua to strengthen the promotion of catalan.
One of the key initiatives of xarxa per la llengua is the 'Comercios Aprendientes' programme, which provides practical linguistic training and support to commercial establishments to facilitate the use of catalan in customer service. This programme consists of two phases: prospecting and execution, with a particular focus on the Centre, Sant Josep, and Santa Eulàlia neighbourhoods.
The initiative also collaborates with local associations, community entities, and educational plans to encourage the use of catalan in everyday interactions between merchants and residents. Another focus is organising activities that promote oral use of catalan outside the classroom, in partnership with educational centres, cultural and sports entities, and leisure spaces. These activities include theatre, audiovisual projects, and creative expression, as well as community events that allow participants to practice the language in real-life situations, particularly targeting children and young people.
In the workplace, the plan includes catalan courses for individuals involved in employment initiatives. These courses, featuring adapted teaching materials, aim to provide basic catalan skills and facilitate its use in professional environments.
xarxa per la llengua also features a communication campaign to promote the use of catalan in local neighbourhoods through digital channels and municipal media. The City Council and the CNL of Hospitalet will collaborate to create a diagnostic assessment of institutional linguistic usage to identify areas for improvement and evaluate measures to enhance the presence of catalan in municipal settings.
The initiative aims to engage the entire city in promoting the use of catalan and to encourage those who already know the language to incorporate it more frequently into their daily lives. The project seeks to go beyond mere learning by providing real opportunities to speak catalan in key socialisation spaces, including shops, community facilities, educational centres, and leisure activities.
xarxa per la llengua is open to the involvement of individuals, entities, and organisations wishing to contribute to this goal. Participation can take various forms, such as providing spaces, organising activities, offering services in catalan, or encouraging the use of the language in everyday interactions. Commitments will be formalised through a document that outlines the collaboration of participating agents.
The CNL of Hospitalet will coordinate and facilitate xarxa per la llengua, which will also include a Language Council. This council will bring together representatives from the City Council, the CNL, educational centres, and community and economic organisations to coordinate actions, identify new needs, and conduct quarterly follow-ups. Periodic reports will be prepared to evaluate the activities undertaken and their outcomes.
