On this day in ...... 1997, the Council of Bimenes, Spain, declared Asturian an official language in its territory. This recognition of the local Romance language set off a chain reaction; other communities in Asturias (coat of arms at left), a coastal principality in northern Spain, followed suit. A year later the national government would accord legal protection as a "traditional language," though not official status, to Asturian, also known as Bable.
(Prior July 4 posts are here, here, and here.)
