Sabino Policarpo Arana Goiri, Sabin Polikarpo Arana Goiri, or Arana ta Goiri'taŕ Sabin (self-styled), was a Spanish writer and the founder of the Basque Nationalist Party (PNV). Arana is considered the father of Basque nationalism.
Sabino Arana
Statue in Abando, near Sabin-Etxea
Sabino Arana imprisoned in Larrinaga for supporting Cuba's independence, pictured here in 1902
Sabin-Etxea in 2007
Basque is the last surviving Paleo-European language spoken in Europe, predating the arrival of speakers of the Indo-European languages that dominate the continent today. Basque is spoken by the Basques and other residents of the Basque Country, a region that straddles the westernmost Pyrenees in adjacent parts of northern Spain and southwestern France. Basque is classified as a language isolate, with no relationship to any other language having been established. The Basques are indigenous to and primarily inhabit the Basque Country. The Basque language is spoken by 806,000 Basques in all territories. Of these, 93.7% (756,000) are in the Spanish area of the Basque Country and the remaining 6.3% (50,000) are in the French portion.
Family transmission of Basque language (Basque as initial language)
Inscription with Basque-like lexical forms identified as "UME ZAHAR", Lerga (Navarre)
Lines in an exercise book given as punishment during Franco's regime. The line is "En la escuela no tengo que hablar vasco" (transl. "I must not speak in Basque at school").
An example of Basque lettering in a funerary stela