The Article 3.3 of the Spanish Constitution reads:

The wealth of the different language variations of Spain is a cultural heritage which shall be the object of special respect and protection

Romanticism awoke Spanish regional literature, which had had a rich literary tradition dating back to the Middle Ages, from its temporary lethargy. The francoist dictatorship initially prohibited and then hindered the use of the Spanish languages other than the Castilian, which found themselves confined to use in the home and encountered serious difficulties for their development as a cultural vehicle.

This was only overcome thanks to the tenacy of private institutions which preserved their study and fostered their use.

Officially speaking, there are also some Statutes of the Autonomous Communities that give protection to a certain number of languages:

The Statute of the Principality of Asturias, set up as an Autonomous Community in 1981, reads: "The Bable shall be protected. Its use will be promoted by the media and the teaching institutions, respecting in any case all the local differences and the wilfulness in its learning".

The Statute of the Autonomous Community of Aragón, set up in 1982, read: "The several linguistic variations of Aragón shall be protected, being considered as elements of its cultural and historic heritage".