L. L. Bonaparte, in 1863, classified it in Biscayan Basque and, within it, in the Guipuzcoan subdialect and variety of Leintz-Gatzaga. In the first third of the 19th century, Añibarro included its localities, for the purposes of preaching, in a list of localities that were strictly Basque-speaking (Miscellaneous: "G. H. L. V.", Auñam., 1960, t. I, pp. 44-60). At present (1970) the number of Basque speakers in the whole valley amounts to 4,780 people (P. de Y.: "Los D. y V.", sep. "B. R. S. V. A. P.", 1973, p. 21).