‘Euskaraz Etxetik Mundura’

Archives of Linguistic Funds is a monothematic library. It is limited exclusively to the universe of languages and is intended to be a collection of linguistic references. Its objective is to collect, catalogue and preserve grammar sources, dictionaries, maps or documents relating to any language in the world. An ambitious project, perhaps too ambitious, but it is already born. The name of this library is Universum Philologicum Biblioteka.

The initial aim of this library was to collect only linguistic material of languages that are in danger of extinction. The idea was expanded to the question: Why not also collect linguistic material of Latin and ancient Greek, even though they are "extinct” languages? Undoubtedly it would be hard work because of several aspects, such as space, time and cost. Therefore a later question arose: Why reject a collection of the same material of our language, Basque, although it is not in imminent danger of extinction yet?

Once this idea was accepted, the final conclusion was to apply the same criterion to the entire universe of languages. Reflex action was getting down to working and considering it the main pursuit for the rest of one’s lifetime. Therefore, it is necessary to emphasize that the initial purpose -the mere informative publication of the catalogue of titles of the endangered languages- became a very important job. This task is materializing with great difficulties but, if possible, with greater personal satisfaction.

Certainly, the reader will find mistakes and flaws. What some people may consider a language, others may only consider as a dialect, something that often happens even among the linguists and philologists. There are languages and features that are named or interpreted in a certain way by the Anglo-Saxon world, but differently by the, so called, Latin world. There are many languages whose names in English, French, or Spanish do not match the name given by its speakers at all. Given this huge hotchpotch, being myself not more than a simple collector, I felt powerless against the urgency of having to choose certain names. I apologize for the numerous cases in which I may not have acted correctly and I’m pleased to consider any suggestions I may receive.

I want to emphasize, therefore, that the purpose of this library is purely informative, which does not aim, or claim, to have any scientific pretensions. Rather, it is a minimal collection of various data about the language in question. Some minimal but essential data are provided about the history of the people who speak or spoke that language, geographical location, separate notes about phonetics, morphosyntax and alphabet. All are provided with the intention that readers could use them to go more deeply, if desired, into the language in question.

Another aspect that should be clear is that for the time being the documents in the library may not be used, consulted or lent. All sources are kept in boxes due to the lack of a suitable place to expose correctly. The reader will receive the content of this website as simple information of existing material.

Finally, I want to thank many people who have helped me to collect this material. I would also like to thank all of those who, upon hearing of the library -and after complimenting the initiative- offered me their grammar, dictionaries or any other documents they had. Many people have done so, in the belief that sharing with this library seemed more appropriate than keeping as their own property. Indeed, I have received quite a lot of material but here is not the place to name donors although I do keep, with special affection, their listings (with both names and donated material).

The material I have used to consult and collect the necessary countless data, is mainly comprised in:

  • ¿QUÉ SON LAS LENGUAS? Alianza Editorial, Enrique Bernárdez, 20x13, 383 or., Madrid, 2001.
  • ATLAS DES LANGUES DU MONDE, Une pluralité fragile, Roland Breton, Paris, 2003.
  • DIALECTOLOGÍA ESPAÑOLA, Biblioteca Románica Española, Gredos, segunda edición muy aumentada, Alonso Zamora Vicente, Madrid, 1970.
  • EL UNIVERSO DE LAS LENGUAS, Editorial Castalia, Juan Carlos Moreno Cabrera, 1347 pág., Madrid, 2003.
  • ETHNOLOGUE, Volumes 1 and 2, fourteenth edition, SIL International, Barbara F. Grimes Editor, Dallas, Texas, 2002.
  • GRAMÁTICA COMPARADA DE LAS LENGUAS IBÉRICAS, Biblioteconomía y Administración Cultural-259, Ramón Andrés Díaz, Ed. Trea, 24x17, 822 or., Asturias, 2013.
  • LENGUAS DEL MUNDO, Espasa Calpe, Rafael del Moral Aguilera, Madrid, 2002.
  • MUNDUKO HIZKUNTZEN IZENAK EUSKARAZ, Uztaro-54, Giza eta gizarte zientzien euskarazko aldizkari akademikoa, 29?59 orrialdeak, Bilbao, 2005.
  • ORIGEN DE LAS LENGUAS OCCIDENTALES, 100 – 1500 d.C., Biblioteca para el Hombre Actual, Philippe Wolff, Ed. Guadarrama, 19x13, 256 or., Madrid, 1971.
  • WIKIPEDIA, The free encyclopedia.