A study conducted in 90 commercial and catering establishments and 10 sports entities in Torredembarra has identified potential for increasing the habitual use of Catalan, particularly in commerce. Only 17.8% of the establishments visited spontaneously initiated customer service in Catalan, although in more than half of the cases, the conversation continued in Catalan when the customer addressed staff in that language. The study has also led to 69 adhesions to language promotion programs.
The results, which cannot be extrapolated to all commerce or entities in the town, indicate that 82.2% of establishments initially greeted customers in Spanish. However, when approached in Catalan, 52.2% of the time the conversation was maintained in Catalan. Furthermore, in 48 out of 90 establishments (53.3%), at least one customer-facing staff member did not speak Catalan.
Regarding written communication, 48.9% of establishments had their main exterior sign in Catalan, and 17.8% partially. For informative signs and posters, 43.3% were in Catalan, and 32.2% included some information in Catalan. Menus, price lists, and other documents also show room for improvement, with 38.9% entirely in Catalan and 14.4% partially.
In the sports sector, Catalan presence is higher. Among the 10 sports entities visited, in 8 all members could speak Catalan, and it was the habitual language for internal relations in 9 entities and with external individuals in 8. Although initial greetings were in Catalan in 6 out of 10 visits, conversations could always be maintained in Catalan.
The diagnosis has served to offer concrete resources. Of the 48 establishments where at least one staff member did not speak Catalan, 28 have enrolled in the Comerços Aprenents (Learning Shops) program. The Voluntariat per la Llengua (VxL) (Language Volunteering) program has been offered to businesses and entities where everyone speaks Catalan, aiming to encourage its habitual use; 41 have joined (82%), including 8 sports entities.
The findings will serve as a basis for defining actions in the future Pla d’Impuls del Català de Torredembarra (Torredembarra Catalan Promotion Plan), with measures tailored to the identified needs to foster more habitual use of the language in commerce, catering, and sports entities.
