Occitan (pronounced /ˈɒksɨtən/)[2], known also as Lenga d'òc in Occitan or Langue d'oc in French (native name: occitan [utsiˈta],[3] lenga d'òc [ˈleŋɡɔˈðɔ(k)];[4] native nickname: la lenga nòstra i.e. "our [own] language") is a Romance language spoken in Occitania, that is, Southern France, the Occitan Valleys of Italy, Monaco and in the Aran Valley of Spain. It is also spoken in the linguistic enclave of Guardia Piemontese (Calabria, Italy). It is a co-official language in Catalonia, Spain (known as Aranese in Aran Valley).[5] Modern Occitan is the closest relative of Catalan.[6] The languages, as spoken in early medieval times, might be considered variant forms of the same language. The term Provençal is often used to refer to Occitan.[7]
The area where Occitan was historically dominant is home to some 14 million inhabitants. It may be spoken as a first language by as many as 1.5 million people[8] in France, Italy, Spain and Monaco. In Monaco Occitan coexists with Monégasque Ligurian which is the other native language.[9] Some researchers state that up to seven million people in France understand the language.[who?]
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