Creation

In nineteenth century, several promoters of the Basque language had previously stressed the need for an academy in defense of the language (Ulibarri, 1832; Aizkibel, 1856; Abadia and Duvoisin, 1862; Manterola, 1880; Artiñano, 1886), and in particular, some scholars and popular associations of the early twentieth century asked to create an institution as soon as possible.

Finally, foreign researchers (Bonaparte, Van Eys, Schuchardt, Dodgson, Gavel, etc.) and local ones (Campion, Azkue, Urkixo, etc.) supported the initiative, with the collaboration of many associations in favor of Euskera (Euskal Esnaleak, for example). All of them created a suitable atmosphere for public institutions of the Historical Territories to create an academy.

The first initiative started in the Province Council of Bizkaia, and subsequently the other three councils of the peninsular territories (1918) joined. Thus the first legislation was approved and Euskaltzaindia was legally created (in October 1919). A year later they started publishing Euskera, official journal of the Academy, which has collected the rules and researches of the institution.

Azkue and Krutwig working together

1919-1936

In the years before the Civil War, the Academy managed to set its mission and character, and joined efforts to create a unified literary Basque language, but failed to take the initiative on a fixed and secure academic track (1922). However, in the works of the period, notable progress is evidenced in terms of knowledge of the language at the time, largely thanks to the work of Azkue (Basque morphology, 1923-1934) and sociolinguistic surveys (Erizkizundi Irukoitza, 1922 and later). The Euskera publication witnessed those works.

1936-1956

The work begun in the previous period was silenced until Azkue, in collaboration with F. Krutwig, resumed work at the beginning of the 1950s (and not in an easy environment). That was when the regulations were renewed (1954), and new members of the academy were selected; from 1956, the Academy developed its tasks more comfortably, both internal and externally (first meeting after the war: Arantzazu, 1956).

Opening

1956-1968

The following decade brought new ways of working and a new energy: in the first place the academy rejuvenated its group of collaborators. Later, the academy got involved in the teaching of Basque through the ikastolas or basque schools. It also promoted the press in Basque, and the literacy of new speakers, among other issues.

The proliferation and dissemination of written materials in Basque required that the academy updated its normative function. In order to meet the needs of the society, the academy organized the Arantzazu Congress in 1968, with the aim of establishing more systematic basic standards for the unification of Basque written in spelling, lexicon, morphology, declensions.... The proposal was completed in 1973 by offering a solution for the unified verb.

1968-1976

The proposed norms prospered thanks to the social acceptance in education, media and administration, in the context of the autonomous governments set up at the beginning of this period (Statute of Euskadi in 1979; Amejoramiento del Fuero of Navarre in 1982).

The academy has continued to develop its internal organization in recent years, and has expanded its network of collaborators, always striving to help in the modernization of unified Basque and seeking a more complete knowledge of the language.