Informal speech in primary school children in their leisure time: the influence of Spanish or French on their spontaneous expressivity

Abstract

This study was funded by the Mintzola Project of the Royal Academy of the Basque Language (Euskaltzaindia), by the Basque School Association (Ikastolen Elkartea) and by Mondragon Unibertsitatea. Our purpose was to examine whether speech among friends in
a formal setting can have a positive effect on increasing informal speech in Basque among students. We present the first steps of this research here. Ten schools (ikastolas) from different territories in the Basque Country were selected, and the language habits of students in their fourth year of Primary Education at home, outside the home and at school were initially examined via a questionnaire in order to obtain baseline information about the sample in as much detail as possible. We then observed the participating children in the recreational areas of the schools in order to determine which language(s) they speak with their friends during their free time.