Galician

Language Lecturer: Inés Fariña [ines.farinaroel@mod-langs.ox.ac.uk]

Introduction

Galician, historically the origin of present-day Portuguese, is a Romance language currently spoken by more than two million people, mainly in Galicia (northwestern Spain), as well as in some border areas of the neighbouring regions of Asturias, Castile and León, and even Extremadura, in addition to the Galician migrant communities around the world.

The Centre for Galician Studies at the University of Oxford, housed in the Queen’s College, was founded in 1991 under the Directorship of Dr John Rutherford with the support of the Xunta de Galicia. It was the first academic institution to offer Galician Studies outside Spain.

Within the framework of the Faculty of Medieval and Modern Languages, the Centre organises a wide variety of cultural and research events each year and co-organises the biannual Forum for Iberian Studies, which brings together the different languages and cultures of the Iberian Peninsula on an equal footing.

The library of the John Rutherford Centre for Galician Studies is a well-stocked and welcoming space, offering an ample collection of books, dictionaries, and audiovisual materials related to Galician culture, where teaching and research take place.

Why study Galician?

Galician culture has been shaped to a large extent by its peripheral condition throughout the centuries, developing a genuine and strong sense of identity. It has fostered a fascinating collective imagination that embraces a founding myth shared with Irish legends (the Sons of Mil, Breogán and the Tower) as per its Celtic heritage. It also incorporates numerous appearances of the Arthurian legends in its literature since the Middle Ages —when Galicia was the cradle of one of the most important literary movements of all time, the Galician-Portuguese lyric— up to the present day.

Despite the historical and political changes that led to their current differences, Galician and Portuguese are still considered part of the same linguistic system. This makes Galicia and the Galician language a privileged bridge between Spain and the enthralling Portuguese-speaking world.

Study Galician in Galicia

Students of Galician may also have the opportunity to attend the annual Galego sen fronteiras summer courses in Santiago de Compostela, organised by the Real Academia Galega in collaboration with the Instituto da Lingua Galega of the University of Santiago de Compostela. [Find out more]

Official certification

Students who reach an advanced level of Galician may wish to consider the CELGA 4 examination, the official certification of advanced proficiency in Galician. An online version of the examination was piloted in 2025, and we will inform students of any similar opportunities announced in future calls.[Find out more]

Although Galician is not available as a full Modern Languages degree subject, it can be studied as a language/cultural/translation course (both for undergraduate and graduate students) in combination with the main language subject(s), especially for those who are reading Portuguese and Spanish or other Romance languages. It can also be taken as an optional Paper at Finals (Paper VIII, XII or Extended Essay in Galician Literature or Linguistics):

Language courses

Beginners Galician

An introduction to Galician language and culture for students with no previous knowledge of Galician (A1–A2). The course develops basic communication skills, grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation, with an emphasis on building confidence to communicate in Galician from the very first class.

Intermediate Galician

For students with a B1–B2 level of Galician or previous experience learning and using Galician. The course develops fluency, grammatical accuracy, and the ability to communicate on a wider range of topics.

Advanced Galician

Intended for students who have already completed previous levels or have significant experience living or studying in Galicia (C1). The main objective is to refine both oral and written proficiency and to develop the ability to argue, debate, and write with sophistication.

Other courses

Galician Speaking

A course focused on developing spoken fluency and confidence through conversation and discussion of cultural and social topics.

Creative and Applied Translation: Culture, Media and Literature (GL/EN)

A course exploring creative and applied translation across literary, audiovisual, cultural, advertising, and digital texts.

Paper XII: Special Subject

Assessment Method: B(3)

Modern Galician

Candidates will be required to show knowledge of the descriptive analysis of the contemporary language, and will have the opportunity of discussing the historical development of the language where this illuminates present-day usage. Candidates will study the structure of Galician as spoken and written in the present day (phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics); an overview of the external history of the language and the regional varieties, the current sociolinguistic situation, standardisation and language policy.

Contemporary Galician Literature

This course is intended to provide an understanding of the more important currents in Galician literature since the 1970s up to the present day. Candidates will be expected to have a general knowledge of the field and a detailed knowledge of works by at least three authors. Candidates are encouraged to read not only narrative but also poetry and theatre. The list of authors may vary slightly from year to year. The following list can be used as a guideline: Xosé Luís Méndez Ferrín, Xohana Torres, Marilar Aleixandre, Roberto Vidal Bolaño, Chus Pato, Suso de Toro, Manuel Rivas, Paula Carballeira, María do Cebreiro and Diego Ameixeiras. This course will focus mainly on issues of cultural, national and gender identity.

Related materials and websites

Translating Contemporary Galician Poetry (seminar)

Students at the John Rutherford Centre for Galician Studies translate seven contemporary Galician texts, by seven contemporary Galician poets, over seven weeks:

Click here to see the results of Hilary Term 2022, along with the original Galician texts. Translations are by Erin Nickalls, Nathan Leach, Cliona Vaughan Spruce, Laura Norris and Nick West. Posters and postcards with excerpts of these texts can be found all over Oxford as a way to bring poetry and Galician language outside the classroom.

Click here to see the results of Hilary Term 2023, along with the original Galician texts. Translations are by Veronika Gvozdovaite, Lydia Gregory and Isobel Richardson. Results of this seminar have been shared at events by Oxford Language Immersion, and will be shared at the open mic events orginised by Oxford Poetry Library, as a way to bring poetry and Galician language outside the classroom.

Click here to see the results of Hilary Term 2024, along with the original Galician texts. Translations are by Pau Francesch Sabaté, Bryony Fishpool, Veronika Gvozdovaitė, Laura Norris, Isobel Richardson, and Cliona Vaughan-Spruce. The first translation in this year's edition will be also published in a special number of the translation journal Viceversa, of the University of Vigo.