Sell ase ur gudenn dit: A Comparison of two minority language communities in France
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2007
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Swarthmore College. Dept. of Linguistics
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Thesis (B.A.)
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Abstract
Since 1970, cultural changes in France have allowed for a softening of the
country’s formerly destructive language policy, though this is happening at a time
when both Breton and the langues d’oc have shifted from dominant
monolingualism in the regional languages through bilingualism to French
monolingualism in just three generations. Despite similarities in usage and
attitude patterns, the language maintenance efforts for Breton and Oc have
occurred in very different forms.
Brief profiles of Oc, Breton, and the language policy situation in France are given
before moving into a discussion of the characteristics the two language
communities have in common. Each language community and its attributes are
then discussed, with particular attention being drawn to the different characters of
the revitalization movements. These situations are then discussed in terms of
recognized linguistics theory, including the work of Fishman, Dorian, Gal and
others. Finally, the prospects for the future of Breton and Oc are evaluated in the
context of the hope placed on schooling as the new site of language transmission,
with examples like that of Gaelic in Ireland serving as comparison points.
Though it relies on the work of Breton linguists like Timm and Broudic and
Occitan/Oc linguists like La Font, Blanchet and Dompmartin, this paper is unique
in that it compares these two French regional languages in a comparative and
contrastive discussion of their linguistic situation and language maintenance
efforts. This work also incorporates the newest data in a discussion these
languages’ long-term prospects for survival.