For too long, speaking like we Canary Islanders do was a cause for mockery. Our accent was described as crude, our words were mistaken for errors, and for many, sounding Canarian was synonymous with a lack of education. It was not uncommon for actors, journalists, or presenters born on the islands to feel the need to neutralize their way of speaking to be taken seriously. As if leaving part of their identity was the price to pay for an opportunity.
Fortunately, times are changing.
In recent years, we have seen how urban music has contributed to breaking down many of those prejudices. Thousands of young people from all over Spain sing Canarian expressions with complete naturalness, while artists from our islands speak without hiding their accent. What was once a source of complexes is today beginning to be a source of pride.
That is why the unanimous approval of a motion to promote Canarian speech comes at an important time. Because it is not just about protecting a handful of words or expressions. It is about recognizing that our way of speaking also tells our story. In every "guagua", in every "fisco", in every "enyesque" or "machango" there are centuries of influences, of miscegenation, and of a unique way of understanding the world.
Perhaps the greatest achievement is not that Canarian speech is heard more and more on the mainland. Perhaps the real achievement is that we Canary Islanders ourselves have stopped feeling the need to hide it. Because a language, or a dialect, not only serves to communicate. It also reminds us who we are.
And when a people stops being ashamed of their way of speaking, they also begin to feel proud of their history.