Learning a new language is always an exciting adventure, but when it comes to the Basque language, the journey becomes even more intriguing. Basque, or Euskara as it is called in the language itself, is a language like no other, with a rich history, unique linguistic features and cultural significance that make it a truly captivating subject of study. Legend has it that the Devil ascended to Earth to learn the language of mankind (Basque, obviously), managed to learn bai and ez (yes and no), promptly gave up and went back to the Underworld in a huff. But don’t let that put you off. In this blog, I will explore some of the many fascinating aspects of learning Basque, from its legendary ties to the Stone Age to its influence on the English word ‘bizarre’, the astronomically-suspect origins of Basque day names, the concept of being euskaldun and the linguistic innovations of Sabino de Arana.
Although it is universally accepted that Basque is one of the oldest languages in Europe, predating the Indo-European migrations of nearly 8,000 years ago, one of the most captivating (if, perhaps apocryphal) aspects of Basque is its purported connection to the Stone Age. While the exact origins of the language remain a subject of debate among linguists, some believe that Basque possibly dates back to the time when our ancestors roamed the continent during the Stone Age. The theory has its origins in the Basque words for a number of tools: aizto, aizkora and aitzur, meaning ‘knife’, ‘axe’ and ‘hoe’. The Basque word for ‘stone’ is haitz, so it has been posited that those tools were originally made from stone. This legend adds an air of mystery and timelessness to the language, making it an exciting field of study for those interested, not only in language and linguistics, but also history and anthropology.
Did you know that the English word ‘bizarre’ has its roots in Basque? It’s a linguistic tidbit that adds another unexpected layer of historical intrigue to the language. The word ‘bizarre’ is believed to have originated from the Basque word bizar(ra), which means ‘beard’. This connection is thought to have arisen from an attested historical fact. In 778, when Emperor Charlemagne was leading his bearded Frankish troops back from battle across the Roncevaux Pass in Basque territory, the largely clean-shaven Basque warriors were struck by their enemies’ distinctive facial features and began shouting bizarra, bizarra! The word was then borrowed into French, its meaning transformed into ‘strange’ or ‘odd’ (the interpretation that those bearded Frankish troops had put on it) and it duly entered the English lexicon, through French.
When it comes to the days of the week, Basque is a real outlier in the world. The Basque words for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday – astelehen, astearte and asteazken – literally translate as ‘first of the week’”, ‘middle of the week’ and ‘end of the week’. So where did this mysterious three-day week come from? Well, the ancient Basques were thought to be proponents of numerology. They liked ‘perfect’ numbers. Ancient Basque astronomers had deduced that the Earth actually took 365.25 days to orbit the sun (a solar year). They didn’t like fractions. So in order to make it a ‘perfect’ number, they multiplied 365.25 by four. That gives you 1,461, which is a prime number (even more ‘perfect’!) Over a period of 1.461 days, you would have 487 iterations of 3-day weeks – hence the mere three days of an ancient Basque week. Unfortunately, when the ancient Basques met the rest of the world, with their pesky 7-day weeks, they had to rethink and add some more. Thursday, Friday and Sunday were all named after solar events, but apparently nothing celestial happened on a Saturday, as that was named larunbat, literally meaning ‘one of the (other) four’! Yet, the original first, middle and last remain.
One of the most fascinating aspects of Basque culture is the concept of being “euskaldun”. In Basque, an “euskaldun” is literally someone who ‘has the Basque language’. What makes this concept unique is that it defines Basque identity based on language rather than ethnicity or nationality. So, strictly speaking, this means that anyone, regardless of their background or origins, can ‘become Basque’ simply by learning the language. I don’t know of any other languages that confer a similar honour. This inclusive approach to identity highlights the importance of language in Basque culture and fosters a sense of belonging.
No exploration of modern Basque would be complete without mentioning Sabino de Arana, a figure who left an indelible mark on the language. Aside from his creation of the Basque National Party (EAJ-PNV), Arana is also known for his role in the creation of many new Basque words and symbols. He coined the term “Euskadi” to refer to the Basque Country itself, and he designed and named the “ikurriña”, the Basque flag. He was particularly prone to taking existing Basque roots and adding his own prefixes and suffixes. “Euskadi” has the existing Basque root “eusko-”, meaning ‘Basque’ and one of Arana’s favourite suffixes, “-di”, for ‘country’. “Ikurriña” is made up of the word “ikur”, meaning a ‘sign, symbol’ and Arana’s “-iñ”, possibly an affectionate suffix. Other similar creations that are now part of the established Basque lexicon are: “ereserki”, the Basque national anthem (made up of “eresi”, an ‘elegy’, “-er-”, from “herri” (‘country’) and an all-purpose noun-forming suffix “-ki”), “aberri”, ‘fatherland, native land’ (made up of Arana’s “ab-” prefix, meaning ‘father’ and “herri” again) and the related “abertzale”, a ‘patriot’ (a combination of “aberri” and the existing Basque suffix “-(t)zale”, meaning a person who has affection for something). Being a confirmed Basque nationalist, Arana also decided to ‘replace’ many popular Spanish personal names, such as Luís, José, María de la Purificación (Puri) and Dolores, coining the Basquified names Koldo(bika), Kepa, Garbiñe and Nekane instead. They’re now widely used Basque names. Arana’s linguistic innovations demonstrate the dynamic nature of Basque and its adaptability to contemporary and societal needs.
So, to conclude, learning Basque is a journey filled with delightful discoveries and exciting enigmas. From its legendary ties to the Stone Age and its influence on the word ‘bizarre’ to its unique take on the calendar and the days of the week and the inclusive concept of being euskaldun, Basque offers a wealth of fascinating insights and intriguing stories to explore. The linguistic innovations of Sabino de Arana, Basque’s adaptability to new concepts and the challenge of successfully learning the language that defeated the Devil himself further enrich the experience of learning this unique language. So, if you’re looking for a linguistic adventure like no other, consider diving into the captivating world of Basque – a language that transcends time and culture and draws you in to explore its many mysteries.
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