Languages of Vassfforcia
ORANGE: Catalan
YELLOW: Spanish
GREEN: Hyarmendorean
BLUE: French and related dialects
PINK: Occitan
Red spots mark places in which every National Language is spoken.
White dots denote areas in which a non-National Language is spoken, these are German in Plenfia and Hilvenídica and Breen in Dohendor and Umperia
As a multicultural country, Vassfforcia is also a multilingual country. The most widely spoken languages in Vassfforcia are Spanish, Hyarmendorean, Catalan, Occitan and French and are considered National Languages, while only Spanish and Hyarmendorean are Official Languages. German and Breen are also spoken in Vassfforcia by isolated minority groups.
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National Languages
National Languages are languages which are considered official in one or more states but not in the federal level. However, elementary schools (primarias and secundarias) are obligated to provide education in any national language of which there are more than ten native speakers enrolled in a determined grade. In regions where more than 10% of the population speaks a language different from that of the majority may ask for all the government announcements to be issued in their language. Instructions and explanations for the use of products shall be printed in the five national languages. However, media is not forced to use any particular language thus they use the majority language with some channels and radio stations or only some programs transmitting in minority languages. Digital television has made transmission in all the national languages easier, as people may select their language or to have subtitles when they need them. If news is transmitted in a non-official language they always have subtitles on Spanish or Hyarmendorean (depending on the region) and if they are transmitted on Spanish or Hyarmendorean they have subtitles in the largest minority language in the region or in the other official language.
Official Languages
Only Spanish and Hyarmendorean are considered official languages in the federal level, this is due to the number of native speakers. By law every Vassfforcian must be a fluent speaker of one official language and have a basic knowledge of two more national languages and of English. Every school must provide free teaching of Spanish, Hyarmendorean, English and two more national languages as foreign languages.
Spanish
There are about 100 million native speakers of Spanish in Vassfforcia which makes it the most spoken language in the country. Spanish is mainly spoken in the northeastern third of the country (the most heavily populated) and in large cities. The states where Spanish is widely spoken are Vassfforcia la Serenísima, Letia, Progreso, northern Filibustenia, Sepeténtrion (coexistent with Catalan), southern Montaura, eastern West Vassfforcia, southern Hilvenídica (coexistent with Hyarmendorean and French) and in the area of Tirritidivá City (coexistent with French, Occitan and Catalan).
Hyarmendorean
There are about 25 million native speakers of Hyarmendorean in Vassfforcia. It is mainly spoken in the southwest third of the country (Dohendor, Rhûnorod, Hilvenídica and the western third of Tirritidivá) In this region most media is on Hyarmdorean, but also on French, Occitan and around Hilvenídica City on Spanish.
Catalan
There are about 15 million native speakers of Catalan in Vassfforcia. It is mainly spoken in the northwest third of the country (Umperia, Vilnia and Septéntrion) and in Montaura and parts of Filibustenia and Tirritidivá Island. From these regions, media transmits on Catalan only in Montaura and the northwest. Because of the distribution of Catalan in the country there has been much discussion about making it an official language since the Reform of 52; however, the Grand Senate has never passed this resolution.
French
There are about 10 million native speakers of French in Vassfforcia. It is mainly spoken in Plenfia, eastern Hilvenídica and southwestern Tirritidivá. However, most of these speakers don't use standard French, but many dialects which have survived in Vassfforcia; nevertheless, they do use standard French for writing and on the media (most media is on French, but also on Hyarmendorean, Occitan and around Hilvenídica City on Spanish).
Occitan
There are about 8 million native speakers of Occitan in Vassfforcia. It is nearly only spoken in Tirritidivá, where some media uses Occitan. However, the other national languages are all used as Tirritidivá is the only state where the six national languages are used for daily life.
Other languages
Other languages spoken in Vassfforcia are German and Arabic. These languages are spoken by Quakers and other religious minorities in Plenfia and by Breen refugees who have arrived during the last 20 years, respectively. In total, the native speakers of a non-national language are 2 million, but about 90% of them are fluent in at least one national language.
English
Although English is not spoken in Vassfforcia, by law every Vassfforcian must have a basic knowledge of this language due to its international importance.
