2013_11_28_catedra_homenaje_ana_echaide

The University of Navarra paid tribute to the Basque philologist Ana Echaide, on the occasion of the closing of the commemorative events of the 50th anniversary of the Chair of language and Basque Culture of the academic center. The professor spoke about the future of this institution: "I hope that they know how to strengthen in the university students the taste for the local, for what is properly ours," she said.

Ana Echaide was honored for her work as head of the Chair between 1980 and 2002. A corresponding academician of Euskaltzaindia since 1982 and member of JAKIUNDE since 2009, she succeeded José Miguel de Barandiaran in the direction of the Chair and initiated a new line of work to rescue dialectal forms of Basque. He also initiated the teaching of Basque linguistics within the curricula and in 1994 he started and directed the Diploma of programs of study Vascos.

In his speech, he thanked Antonio Fontán work , Dean of the School of Philosophy y Letras and promoter of the Chair, and José Miguel de Barandiaran, "who accepted the assignment of directing the Chair when he was already at an advanced age".

The tribute was presided over by the President, Alfonso Sánchez-Tabernero, who affirmed that"the will of internationalization of the University is not contradictory to the interest in Basque culture. The global vision must be rooted in Navarre". "Since its beginnings," he added, "the University has been committed to Navarre as an object of study; test of this is the prolific work of the Chair". 

Contributions to the Philology

The event was also attended by philologist Asier Barandiaran, professor of Didactics of language and Literature at the UPV-EHU, and Manuel Casado, Full Professor of language Spanish at the University of Navarra.

In his speech, Manuel Casado made a profile of the philologist and emphasized how, from the beginning, her research activity has been focused on two aspects of her linguistic skill : Castilian and Basque. The Full Professor defined her as a "true master of university life", "a pioneer of the programs of study of geographical and social variation, who anticipated to contemplate one of the variables of sociolinguistic study, such as sex difference, in the consideration of linguistic phenomena".

Professor Asier Barandiaran also referred to his contribution to the Philology, for example with his contribution to the Linguistic Atlas of Euskal Herria, as well as to his management during the years he directed the Chair, "taking advantage of the possibilities that the arrangement offered to introduce teaching on language and Basque culture in the teaching plans of the university".

The workshop began with the performance of 24 dantzaris, from the group Duguna Dantza Taldea. The event was then opened by the dean of the School of Philosophy and Letters, Rosalía Baena, who gave way to a roundtable on the "Promotion of Basque Culture in the XXI century", in which participated representatives of various entities working for the language and Basque culture.

Present at the forum were Maximino Gómez, from Euskarabidea (Basque Institute of Basque); Andrés Iñigo, from Euskaltzaindia (Academy of the Basque language ); Joseba Epelde, from the Etxepare Institute; Iñaki Dorronsoro, from Eusko-Ikaskuntza (Society of Basque programs of study ); Susana Irigaray, from the José Miguel Barandiaran Foundation; Michel Duvert, from the Societé des Amis du Musée Basque de Bayonne; and Mari Mar Larraza, director of the Chair of language and Basque Culture of the University of Navarra. The event ended with a voice and piano recital of a selection of Basque folklore songs.

22 years dedicated to Chair

Professor Ana Echaide Itarte holds a degree in Romance Philology from the University of Barcelona (1959) and a PhD from the University of Navarra (1967), where she has held teaching duties as Professor teaching assistant and Assistant Professor of language Spanish between 1964 and 1970, and Professor of language Basque of the Chair of language and Basque Culture between 1964 and 1970, year in which she obtained by civil service examination the place of Associate Professor of language Spanish at the University of Santiago de Compostela, where she teaches teaching between 1970 and 1975. Back at the University of Navarra, she taught teaching Spanish language and Basque Linguistics at Philology Hispánica and doctorate. In 1981 he obtained by competition the Chair of General Linguistics at the University of the Basque Country.

In addition to thesis of licentiate degree, of Master and Works of research, he has directed thesis doctoral studies in Spanish Linguistics and Basque Linguistics. In 1994 she started and directed the Diploma of programs of study , in which students from different universities participated Schools. In 2002 she was appointed Emeritus Professor.

At the University of Navarra she has held the positions of Director of the department of General Linguistics, Director of the Chair of language and Basque Culture, Vice-Dean-Director of the Division of Philology, General Librarian and representative of the University of Navarra in the board Permanent of the Society of programs of study Basques (1978-2002).