THE MENORCAN GLOSSARY WILL BE DECLARED AS A PROPERTY OF INTANGIBLE CULTURAL INTEREST OF MENORCA

At the beginning of July, and by resolution of the Minister of Culture, Education, Youth and Sports of the Consell Insular de Menorca, proceedings were initiated to declare the Menorcan gloss as a Property of Intangible Cultural Interest of Menorca. Given the cultural relevance of this literary form, The Insular Council of Menorca has considered it appropriate to start this procedure to join the Menorcan gloss to the Latin sail and the dry stone construction technique, that already enjoy that mention on the island.

THE MENORCAN GLOSSY: CULTURAL HERITAGE

In many cultures of the world, and since time immemorial, popular literature has had a marked oral character. Therefore, samples of the genre of improvised verse abound as an expression of popular culture. Despite the similarities that these literary expressions have around the world, in each place they enjoy particular characteristics that make them unique. In the case of Minorca, the Menorcan gloss is of great cultural importance.

The Menorcan gloss is, Undoubtedly, one of the most beautiful forms of literary expression in the entire Mediterranean. It is an oral and rhymed composition., usually improvised at the time of performance, and that is accompanied by a guitar called “ses porgueres”.

ORIGIN AND EVOLUTION OF THE MENORQUIN GLOSA

It is believed that its origin dates back to at least the 17th century and that it was an expression of a collective and public nature., generally in the festive and celebration field. It is a genre designed to share and transmit stories among members of the community. They constituted one of the main entertainments in Menorcan society, especially among country people.

Miquel Ametller, one of the promoters of the 20th century Menorcan gloss

During the 20th century, the importance of the Menorcan gloss declines and the genre becomes endangered. Nevertheless, With the arrival of democracy, a process of recovery of the genre begins as a distinctive of the linguistic and cultural identity of the island.. Thanks to the effort made by Miquel Ametller and Esteve Barceló, the Menorcan gloss resurfaced. Más tarde, en 1999, the Soca de Mots Association was founded. This is responsible for organizing meetings, as well as offering training and doing research on the gloss. Nowadays, each year numerous commentators participate in the meetings held in Menorca.

For all this, The declaration of the Menorcan glossary as an Intangible Cultural Property of Menorca is great news. We hope that this contributes to continue fostering the promotion and renewal of this particular and unique genre..

By Maite Vallejo

ILLES.CAT

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