Languages of Catalonia
According to the official government of Catalonia, Catalan is the second most spoken language of the region, after Spanish (over 35% of Catalans use exclusively Catalan as their first language, while 11% of Catalans use equally both Catalan and Spanish). It is the most spoken language in many comarques of Catalonia, with the exception of the Barcelona metropolitan area (Barcelonès plus surrounding comarques) and Camp de Tarragona. Catalan is a compulsory subject in schools and enjoys equals rights with Spanish throughout Catalonia.
Influence of Arabic on other languages
Arabic has notably influenced the Valencian variety of the Catalan language spoken in Spain south of Catalonia, more than Catalonia itself although it also left influences in Catalan. Due to more than 8 centuries of Arabic dominion in the Iberian Peninsula (Al-Andalus), hundreds of words from many fields (including Arabic inventions) have been adapted into Catalan; among many are "séquia" ("irrigation ditch"), "nòria" ("whaterwheel, noria"), "algorfa" ("loft"), "magatzem" ("warehouse"), "alfàbia" ("earthenware jar"), "barnús" ("bathrobe"), "aladroc" ("anchovy"), "dacsa" ("corn"), "safanòria" ("carrot"), "carxofa" ("artichoke"), "albergínia" ("aubergine"), "xirivia" ("parsnip"), "alfals" ("alfalfa"), "albercoc" ("apricot"), "tramús" ("lupin"), "corfa" ("bark, peel"), "xara" ("thicket"), "matalaf/matalàs" ("mattress"), "alacrà" ("scorpion"), "fardatxo" ("lizard") "alfàb(r)ega" ("basil"), etc. and expressions such as "a la babalà" ("randomly, to God's will") and "a betzef" ("abundance, plenty").