La voz euskera: ¿invento moderno?

Abstract

In some cultural circles we find that there is certain confusion regarding the chronological origin, semantic content and historical evolution of some voices related with the Basque language, specifically: Vascón (Vascon), Vasco (Basque); and some with double denomination, one normally used by Basque speakers, and its corresponding form among Romance speakers: Euskara, Euskera, Uskara “vascuence”, “lengua vasca” (Basque lan guage), considered a modern “invention”, and which appears in the 18th century as the name of the person Marzuq Ibn Uskara. Euskaldun (Basque speaker). Erdaldun (non-basque speaker). Before the 18th century, these words lacked political content. From the beginning of the 9th century until past the Middle Age, the name “Navarrese” was given to Basque speaking inhabitants of the area to the south of the Pyrennees.