APARTADO DE CORREOS 930 - 10080 CÁCERES (ESPAÑA)
INTRODUCTION
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The APLEx Cultural Society "Study and Dissemination of the Extremaduran Linguistic Heritage", is legally registered, with its constitution reviewed, December 19, 2003, by the CPJE, #3179 and CIF #G10309607. This is a non-profit, collectively administrated association formed Saturday, November 29, 2003, when at 11:00 a.m., in the Conference Room of the Monte Bola Complex in Cáceres, the sixteen founding members of APLEx, from various regions of Spain, to discuss and approve the Constitution of the new Society (see PDF file, Constitution), and to elect its first Board of Directors. The main object of the Society is to preserve and revitalize the Extremadura's intangible heritage, as defined by UNESCO: "The intangible heritage might be defined as embracing all forms of traditional and popular or folk culture, i.e. collective works originating in a given community and based on tradition. These creations are transmitted orally or by gesture, and are modified over a period of time through a process of collective recreation. …The intangible heritage is vast in extent and concerns each individual, for everyone bears within him [/her] the heritage of his [/her] own community…" It is precisely the ephemeral aspects of this heritage which makes it particularly vulnerable to the point of possible disappearance.

The Extremaduran dialects and local variants which constituted the vehicle of transmission of the culture and its popular literature (stories, legends, ballads, songs…) have always been part of this culture; for this reason, our new Societywill serve as a meeting point for all those working in research related to Extremaduran dialectology, for writers who have used Extremaduran language forms in their work, and in general for all those who have an interest in the rich cultural legacy of Extremadura, both those from Extremaduran families, and those who have come to appreciate the culture from other regions and countries. Conserving this culture transmitted through generations will serve as the road to the maintenance of cultural diversity. Our knowledge of it will surely lead us into the very essence of Extremaduran culture and help us to maintain our collective memory.

Recommendation for the safeguarding of traditional culture and folklore adopted by the UNESCO General Conference, 25th session, Paris, November 15, 1989.

The necessity of protecting the heritage of our ancestors today is a universal obligation common to all: for this reason, our Society sees as a given that Extremadura's linguistic heritage cannot be studied from an exclusively regionalist perspective, as Extremadurans have interacted on a cultural level with many of the world's peoples, from our role in the colonialization of America to the numerous cultural links which connect us with our Portuguese neighbours. As well, the transhumance routes have, since the medieval period, kept us in contact with other communities and the large number of Extremaduran emigrants who had to leave their lands to find work have created links with other areas of Spain as well as in many different countries, always remembering their roots and disseminating their culture through Extremaduran cultural and community centres. Thus, part of our goals already appear in Article 60 of Law 2/1999, March 29: Historical and Cultural Patrimony of Extremadura:

"The intangible ethnographic heritage of Extremadura, such as customs, mores, creations, behaviour, lifestyles, oral tradition, dialects and linguistic variants, etc., will be protected by the Council of Culture and Heritage (Consejería de Cultura y Patrimonio) in the way envisaged by this Law, promoting research and thorough collecting these intangible goods in ways which will assure their transmission to future generations."

During the year 2004 we plan to set up several activities, not the least of which will be the Conference APLEx 2004 on Extremaduran Linguistic Heritage, and the publication of the first issue of APLEx, in which researchers, and writers working with Extremaduran dialects and culture will be able to share their work and experiences. Membership is crucial, for without its support it will not be possible for the Society to develop: it has been formed with no funding at any level.

Everyone interested in this important project is invited to complete the form included on this site, and deposit the annual dues, which for 2004 have been set at 20 (twenty) euros. The account is: 099.0200.87.0071334102, Caja de Extremadura, C/San Pedro 15, 10003 Cáceres, Spain. As soon as this is received, full membership is accorded, regular information about the association will be received, and members will receive the Journal. Membership also confers special privileges for the Society's activities, such as conferences, research and literary prizes.

We thank you for your support.

Nota.- Es el inglés una lengua universal y de gran prestigio, por lo que amenaza con invadir el Diccionario de la Real Academia de la Lengua Española con anglicismos innecesarios que tienen perfecto sustituto en el español.

(Translated by Dr. Judith Cohen, etnomusicologist canadien)

 
Memberships Form
Full Name:

Passport Number: Profession:

Address: Postal Code:

City: Province/State/Country:

Place of birth:

Telephone(s): E-mail:

 

A) Have you done any research in dialectology? Yes    No

If yes, what area(s) have you worked on?

Have you published anything on your work, or do you have unpublished manuscripts? Yes   No

If yes, title(s), date(s), and publication details: (indicar si es inédito)

 

B) Are you writer? Yes   No

Have you published anything on your work? Yes   No

Has any of your written work used aspects of Extremaduran dialects or variants? Yes  No

If yes, title(s), date(s), and publication details: (indicar si es inédito)

 

C) Have you carried out any other activities related to the linguistic heritage or other aspects of traditional or popular culture of Extremadura?

  Yes   No

Details:

 

D) Other remarks:

 
In accordance with the Ley Orgánica 15/99, December 13, 1999, of the Protection of Personal Information, we inform you that information you provide will be stored in the data base of APLEx members, and kept in the strictest confidenciality, so that you can be regularly informed of our activities.