Description :
This episode of Orality and Humanity, broadcast by Radio Pais, is part of the European Tramontana Network (Réseau Tramontana / Tramontana Network) project, co-funded by the European Union and dedicated to promoting the oral, cultural and linguistic heritage of European territories. In this programme, listeners continue to discover the testimony of Justin Laban, recorded during an event organised by the association Nosotros de Bigorre, where he shares memories, personal experiences and reflections on the importance of language as a living expression of identity.
Justin Laban recalls stories connected with Bigorre, local traditions and encounters that reveal the strong relationship between people and their regional language. Through his memories, he highlights how language carries emotions, social bonds and collective experiences. He also reflects on the disappearance of everyday uses of the local speech, regretting that many inhabitants no longer transmit the language of their ancestors, while emphasising the need to restore its place in social and cultural life.
The episode also explores the connection between language, spirituality and the history of Lourdes. Justin Laban evokes the story of Bernadette Soubirous and the importance of the language spoken during the apparitions, showing how local speech is deeply connected with memory and faith. His testimony expresses a desire to share this heritage with pilgrims and communities, defending oral transmission as a way of preserving humanity, culture and the unique voices of each territory.