# Catalan language usage and policy debates

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/catalan-language-usage-and-policy-debates
> Updated: 2026-09-21T18:58:20.000Z. Sources: 4. Developments: 2.

Debates regarding the use and preservation of the Catalan language have intensified across different sectors of society. A study by the Institut d'Estudis Catalans and the Barcelona City Council indicates a decline in Catalan usage among youth in sports and leisure settings. The research found that only 11.3% of linguistic interactions between young people in these environments are conducted exclusively in Catalan, while Spanish remains the dominant language for peer-to-peer communication.

In the educational sector, groups are campaigning for different linguistic approaches. Plataforma per la Llengua has issued a manifesto titled “A l’escola catalana, la llengua no es toca” (In the Catalan school, the language is not to be touched), calling for the reinforcement of linguistic immersion policies in response to perceived regression and legal pressures. 

Conversely, the Coordinadora de Entidades de la Resistencia Cívica de Tarragona is advocating for bilingualism. This group has launched campaigns protesting the perceived imposition of Catalan, using slogans such as “No a la inmersión lingüística” and “Catalán sí, Castellano también” to demand greater visibility for the Spanish language in public and religious signage.

## Timeline

### 2026-09-21: Catalan groups debate language use and immersion in schools

Catalan organizations are clashing over language policies in schools, with some defending linguistic immersion and others campaigning for bilingualism and increased Spanish language use.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/catalan-groups-debate-language-use-and-immersion-in-schools

### 2026-09-21: Barcelona study shows decline in Catalan use among youth

A study by the IEC and Barcelona City Council shows Catalan usage is minimal among youth in sports and leisure settings, with only 11.3% of peer interactions conducted exclusively in the language.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/barcelona-study-shows-decline-in-catalan-use-among-youth

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Cite as: Catalan language usage and policy debates. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/catalan-language-usage-and-policy-debates