While not as harsh as France has been on its regional languages, Spain has not had a pretty past (or present) with the many languages spoken within its borders. Yet somehow, these languages have persisted in a rather formidable way.
Spanish is spoken by most people in the country and can be considered a lingua franca
Silbo Gomero is a whistled language spoken on the Canary Island of Gomero. While it is not the main language used there, i could not miss the opportunity of spreading the word about this fantastic language. Basically it uses whistling to imitate Spanish.
I think that at the current moment, Western Europe is moving towards appreciation of its minority languages, rather than persecution. Now we just have to hope it’s not too late. Although admittedly, Silbo Gomero is a different story, as its utility is diminished by the invention of cell phones and the like. But as long as it stays an important cultural icon of the island, it will definitely stick around.
Actually, Aranese is a dialect of Gasconian, which is a dialect of Occitan, a non-oficial minor language spoken in a vast territory encompasing the southern half of France. It is way of a miracle that the only reduct of Occitan that has got a legal status after so many centuries is in Spanish or Catalan territory. Shame on France and its genocide on cultural diversity. May you admit Gasconian along with Aranese.