Catalan language is spoken by around 9 million people in Catalonia, Valencia, northern France, the Balearic islands (Mallorca, Menorca, Eivissa and Formentera) and in l'Alguer. Although you can of course "survive" in Catalonia speaking Spanish, Catalan is a thousand widespread language that has been spoken for almost a thousand years surviving periods of oppression, marginalisation and enjoying as well times of cultural splendour, especially during the Reinassance, the 19th century and after the death of General Franco in 1975. Catalans will appreciate that visitors and tourists make the effort of at least using a few words in Catalan to show awareness and respect to their language and their land. No doubt speaking a few words of Catalan will be warmly welcome by catalans and you will have the chance of speaking a very beautiful and unique language that sounds like mixing French, Italian and Spanish.