Lo Rat Penat | |
 Headquarters of Lo Rat Penat | |
| Abbreviation | LRP |
|---|---|
| Formation | 1878; 147 years ago (1878) |
| Founder | Constantí Llombart |
| Purpose | Linguistic and cultural promotion |
| Headquarters | c/ Trinquet de Caballers 9Valencia,Spain |
Region served | Valencian Community |
Official language | Valencian |
| Website | https://loratpenat.org/ |
Lo Rat Penat (inEnglishthe bat) is a cultural society of theValencian Community created in1878 for the teaching, diffusion and preservation of theValencian language and culture.[1] Its headquarters are located in the city centre ofValencia, and its name refers to the Valencia's heraldic symbol which is abat.
Lo Rat Penat holds annual contests, especially during the major festivals of theValencian Community like its contest of shortFalla books,[2] theAlicante's bonfires short books contest, theSaint Vincent miracles theatre contest,[3] or theRoodmas flower crosses contest. In particular, its short Falla books contest (Concurs de Llibrets de Falla) has been recognised by theUNESCOintangible cultural heritage declaration of theFallas.[4][5] Lo Rat Penat holds the annual edition of the ValencianFloral games which award the best productions of the Valencian literature.[6] Besides it counts with sections devoted to theValencian chant, dances, chorus, and publishing.
The association is devoted to the diffusion, recuperation and teaching of theValencian language. Lo Rat Penat supports the singularity of the Valencian language as opposed to a variety ofCatalan. The association defends, uses, and promotes an alternative codification for Valencian calledNorms of El Puig, regulated by theRoyal Academy of Valencian Culture (RACV), and calls for its officialization. In this respect, it considers the Royal Academy of Valencian Culture as the authentic regulator of Valencian, and rejects the current official normative institution, theValencian Academy of the Language (AVL), and its Catalan unitarian standard.
In this field the association organises several courses of Valencian following theCommon European Framework of Reference for Languages. Its teaching activity has only been official by theValencian authorities in the period 1980–1983,[7] and was legally recognised between 2015 and 2016.[8][9] Ever since Lo Rat Penat calls for the officialization of its Valencian qualifications. Its linguistic and cultural activities have usually had the economic aid of the Valencian administrations,[10] and the association has counted with the support of notable Valencian personalities.[11]