Hello Marc,

As a native English speaker, I do understand what the word "official" means. I also understand how passionate the Catalan people are about their regions independence, culture and language. Can you accept though that the region is part of Spain and that Spanish (Castilian) names are not entirely "wrong" to everyone? Of course, GE should show the Catalan names as that is what is used locally - nobody is suggesting otherwise. I'd like to understand better from you why the Castilian is totally unacceptable? Do you feel the same way about exonyns in other languages?

As for the web links, there are plenty of others which (more neutrally) list both name forms. e.g. Wiki. I believe even ISO (International Standards Organization) 3166-2 lists the region as "Catalonia" rather than "Catalunya". I think you will have a lifetime job if you want to complain to everyone on the web who uses non-Catalan versions! Educating organisations to be aware of a preferred regional version, in exclusive local use, is a much more diplomatic solution.

The Wiki on the region seem quite good (listing both name forms) and I notice it states that Spanish is also an official language of the region:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catalonia_%28autonomous_community%29

I noted one of the points under the Language category... "Spanish speakers argue that the policy [Catalan Government's policy of promoting the Catalan language] is discriminatory and against their civil rights to use Spanish in everyday life."

- MM