"Acto contriciocoa eriotzaco orduracò": García de Albeniz araiarraren araberazko eskuizkribua (1778)

Abstract

In this article a brief 18th c. Basque text is presented. This text reflects the features of the Basque language that was spoken once in the area of Araia, in the province of Araba. Therefore it is a testimony coming from an area where Basque language finally extinguished during the first half of the 19th c., leaving no other sign of its existence behind. It is for this reason that the author of the article has devoted a long introduction to determine the exact date and author of the text, with the objective of being able to place the text in its corresponding context.
   Apart from that, the greatest part of the article tries to point out the characteristics of the language used in the text, trying to establish the similarities and differences with the scarce ancient texts written in Basque found in the province, where Basque language loose ground and finally disappeared during the 18th and 19th cc. A section dedicated to draw some conclusions follows. And finally the text with its corresponding notes is found.