<P> The word Catalan derives from the territory of Catalonia, itself of disputed etymology . The main theory suggests that Catalunya (Latin Gathia Launia) derives from the name Gothia or Gauthia ("Land of the Goths"), since the origins of the Catalan counts, lords and people were found in the March of Gothia, whence Gothland> Gothlandia> Gothalania> Catalonia theoretically derived . </P> <P> In English, the term referring to a person first appears in the mid 14th century as Catelaner, followed in the 15th century as Catellain (from French). It is attested a language name since at least 1652 . Catalan can be pronounced as / ˈkætəlæn /, / kætəˈlæn / or / ˈkætələn / . </P> <P> The endonym is pronounced / kə. təˈɫa / in the Eastern Catalan dialects, and / ka. taˈɫa / in the Western dialects . In the Valencian Community, the term valencià (/ va. len. siˈa /) is frequently used instead . The names "Catalan" and "Valencian" are two names for the same language . See also status of Valencian below . </P> <P> By the 9th century, Catalan had evolved from Vulgar Latin on both sides of the eastern end of the Pyrenees, as well as the territories of the Roman province of Hispania Tarraconensis to the south . From the 8th century onwards the Catalan counts extended their territory southwards and westwards at the expense of the Muslims, bringing their language with them . This process was given definitive impetus with the separation of the County of Barcelona from the Carolingian Empire in 988 . </P>

Is catalan more similar to french or spanish