Mallorca

"The complete harmony between the languages of the kingdoms of Mallorca and Aragón, both in terms of structure and the characteristic taste of that century, is patently clear even now, bearing in mind the popular songs which have survived to this day from then.

The marriage between Isabella of Castile and Ferdinand II the Catholic was not only mortal for the Aragonese nation, but also for the language of Catalonia. Installed in the court of the newlyweds in Castile, Castilian, whose importance quickly grew with the achievements in arms, discoveries and conquests, thereafter became the official language for matters of state, writers and poets, adopted as well by Catalans and Mallorcans in oral and written use.

However, in the first half of our centrury (19th), a resurgence occurred amongst Mallorcan writers, giving way to some agreeing to use charming vernacular tones in their stanzas. Firstly, we cite those who have already disappeared, with special first mention going to Guillermo Roca, son of Guillermo Roca y Seguí already mentioned amongst the authors of the preceding century. The son was a lawyer and left us some satirical compositions not at all without merit. Tomás Aguiló y Cortés addressed primarily religious themes in his couplets, though we also know of some fables and dramatic compositions versified in Mallorcan. José Togores, father of today’s Count of Ayamans, Baron of Lloseta, died in 1831 and was a celebrated lyrical author.

Four poets, Gerónimo Rosselló, Mariano Aguiló y Fuster, Miguel Victoriano Amer and José Luis Pons, are who most stand out for their attempts to revive the old way of speaking on Mallorca."

Archduke Ludwig Salvator of Austria. Las Baleares por la palabra y el grabado. Majorca: General Part. Ed. Sa Nostra, Caja de Baleares. Palma de Mallorca. 1982.