Identifying the factors of transmission of the Basque language and their impact on its future in the autonomous community of Basque Country

Given the weakness in the synthetic indicator of fertility in the autonomous Community of the Basque Country (ACBC), one would expect a reduction in the practice of the Basque language as the parent population, which embodies the Basque cultural identity, is aging and may diminish over time. But in reality we are witnessing an increase in both the proportion of people who understand Basque, and an increase in the proportion of those who have good knowledge of the language. This study identifies factors that explain this trend by analyzing the respective roles played by the school and the family in Basque language learning. Thus, there is an assimilation of the Basque language by the non-native community, and the importance of the role that the school plays in language learning. Finally, a working knowledge of Basque language knowledge projections in the ACBC for 2050 and 2100, illustrates the evolution of this language, including the importance for immigrants of learning Basque.