Koldo Zuazo facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Koldo Zuazo
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Zuazo in 2011
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| Born | 1956 (age 68–69) |
Koldo Zuazo (born in 1956) is a smart Basque expert. He teaches at the University of the Basque Country. Koldo Zuazo is really good at studying how the Basque language changes from place to place (this is called dialectology). He also looks at how language is used in society (this is called sociolinguistics).
Contents
Exploring Basque Language Differences
Since 1998, Koldo Zuazo has done amazing work on the different ways people speak Basque, known as Basque dialects. He created a brand new way to group these dialects and even made a new map! This was a big deal because not much had changed in this area since the work of Louis Lucien Bonaparte way back in 1863.
How Basque Dialects Started
Koldo Zuazo believes that the different Basque dialects, along with other new ways of speaking, first appeared in cities and towns. Here are some of the places he thinks they started:
- Iruña
- Gasteiz
- The middle part of Biscay (around Durango, Zornotza, Gernika, and Bermeo)
- Beterri in Gipuzkoa (including Donostia, Hernani, Andoain, and Tolosa)
- The coast of Lapurdi
- It's not clear where the Eastern dialect began. Zuazo thinks it might have been in Bearn or Huesca.
Zuazo noticed that all the dialects were influenced by Latin in a similar way. This makes him think that all the dialects started to form after the time of the Roman Empire. This idea matches what another expert, Mitxelena, thought earlier.
Where the Western Dialect Began
Koldo Zuazo also believes that the Western dialect of Basque started in Araba. He thinks this because the way people speak in Biscay, western Navarre, the Deba valley, and Goierri are very similar.
Koldo Zuazo's Other Works
Koldo Zuazo has also created helpful resources for learning about the Basque language.
- Euskalkiak (website): This website has lots of information about the standard Basque language and its many local dialects. It uses both text and media like videos or audio to help you learn. The University of the Basque Country helped him publish this website in 2015.
See also
In Spanish: Koldo Zuazo para niños
