Linguistic Policies and the Survival of Regional Languages in France and Britain: The Survival of Regional Languages (Palgrave Studies in Minority Languages and Communities)

Any person who does any unauthorised act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages. ## List of Illustrations Tables 1 List of regional languages spoken in France (author's translation from Des langues plein les poches: Les langues de France (2005), Collection du Moutard de Poche, no. 25, Lyon: Editions du Moutard 2 Immersion schools run by the associative movement 2003-2004 (adapted from the Rapport au Parlement sur I'emploi de la langue française, DGLFLF, 2005) 3 Bilingual education in both the state and private sector for 2003-2004 (adapted from the Rapport au Parlement sur I'emploi de la langue française, DGLFLF, 2005) 4 Total numbers of children having benefited from at least some teaching in the RLs in 2003-2004 (adapted from the Rapport au Parlement sur I'emploi de la langue française, DGLFLF, 2005) I am deeply indebted to many people, both in the academic world and the regional language communities, for much of the information in the book and numerous suggestions as to how best to present it. In particular, I would like to thank Michel Alessio of the Délégation générale à la langue française et aux langues de France, for his untiring support, and similarly Jean-Michel Eloy, Professor in Linguistics at the Université d'Amiens, for reading the draft chapters on French and the French Regional Languages and for their suggestions and constructive criticism. I am also greatly indebted to Peadar Morgan, Language Planning Manager for the Gaelic Language Board, Bòrd na Gàidhlig, to Jenefer Lowe, Cornish Language Development Manager and Ian Jones, CAMOC, for his contributions on Welsh. Last but not least I would like to thank John Salters, previously Director of the Centre for Modern Language Teaching, for his contribution on Irish. Regional Languages is a burning issue, and many of my views have been fed by numerous conversations with academics, such as my colleague Dawn Marley, but also with many people whose own lives are affected by the issue. This book is the result of talking to many such people, both in Britain and France, over many years. My thanks go to them all, and particularly to Jean-Louis Gontard who has been a wonderful 'informant' over the years. xi xii Series Editor's Preface Worldwide migration and unprecedented economic, political and social integration in Europe present serious challenges to the nature and position of language minorities. Some communities enjoy protective legislation and active support from states through policies that promote and sustain cultural and linguistic diversity; others succumb to global homogenisation and assimilation. At the same time, discourses on diversity and emancipation have produced greater demands for the management of difference. This book series has been designed to bring together different strands of work on minority languages in regions with immigrant or traditional minorities or with shifting borders. We give prominence to case studies of particular language groups or varieties, focusing on their vitality, status and prospects within and beyond their communities. Considering this insider picture from a broader perspective, the series explores the effectiveness, desirability and viability of worldwide initiatives at various levels of policy and planning to promote cultural and linguistic pluralism. Thus it touches on cross-theme issues of citizenship, social inclusion and exclusion, empowerment and mutual tolerance. Work in the above areas is drawn together in this series to provide books that are interdisciplinary and international in scope, considering a wide range of minority contexts. Furthermore, by combining single and comparative case studies that provide in-depth analyses of particular aspects of the socio-political and cultural contexts in which languages are used, we intend to take significant steps towards the fusing of theoretical and practical discourses on linguistic and cultural heterogeneity. Alsatian, Basque, Catalan, Corsican, Western Flemish, Occitan, And Various Languages Such As Picard: What Have They Got In Common, If Anything, With Welsh, Scottish Gaelic, Irish, And Cornish? Does Cornish Even Exist Anymore? And Is Scots A Language? And Why Is Ulster Scots So Important Today? These Are The Kind Of Questions Answered In This Book, Which Examines, First Of All, How They Were Partly Or Totally Destroyed By The Emergence Of French And English. Each Language Is Examined In The Context Of The Overall Policies Of France And Britain, Reference Being Made In Each Case To Their Historical Development And The Efforts Made Today To Reinstate Them. A Comparative Approach Helps To Throw Light On Unexpected Similarities In Both Countries, And Offers Therefore Much Food For Thought For Those Involved In Their Rehabilitation Or Working In Contexts In Which The Regional Languages Play A Role (education, Administration, Tourism, Policy Making). An Understanding Of The Problems Involved Is Essential For Any Understanding Of The Contemporary Issues Affecting Both France And Britain Today, Particularly In Terms Of Devolution, Or, In The Case Of France, Decentralization. A Valuable Resource And Enjoyable Reading For Both Students And Researchers. The Rise Of French As An Official National Language -- The Rise Of English As An Official Language -- Regional Languages Official Elsewhere: Basque, Catalan, Flemish And Alsatian -- Regional Languages Not Official Elsewhere: Breton, Corsican, Franco-provencal, Occitan And The Langues D'oil -- Revitalising The Regional Languages Of France -- The Regional Languages Of England And Wales: Welsh And Cornish -- The Regional Languages Of Scotland: Scottish Gaelic And Scot -- The Regional Languages Of Northern Ireland: Irish And Ulster Scots. Anne Judge. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 236-256) And Index. "Beginning with a critique of the concept of Europe, this book explores the political context for current language policy. Social and political status within the European Union can bring significant benefits for speakers of national or official languages. While speakers of minority and contested languages have derived considerable benefits from the transnational context, many are less than happy with the hierarchical structure of EU language policy. This book focuses on languages spoken in Europe by Europeans and non-Europeans alike. The author explores key questions such as the impact of political boundaries on the concept of language and the significance of language for citizenship in Eastern Europe in particular. It assesses the quest for recognition and legitimacy among speakers of minority and contested languages and queries the non-recognition of migrant, non-European languages. The book adopts an interdisciplinary approach from a social science perspective and advocates an alternative approach to language policy."--Jacket Front Matter....Pages i-xii Introduction....Pages 1-4 Front Matter....Pages 5-5 Introduction....Pages 7-8 The Rise of French as an Official National Language....Pages 9-33 The Rise of English as an Official Language....Pages 34-59 Front Matter....Pages 61-61 General Presentation....Pages 63-68 Regional Languages Official Elsewhere: Basque, Catalan, Flemish and Alsatian....Pages 69-92 Regional Languages Not Official Elsewhere: Breton, Corsican, Franco-Provençal, Occitan and the Langues d’oïl....Pages 93-119 Revitalising the Regional Languages of France....Pages 120-145 Front Matter....Pages 147-147 General Presentation....Pages 149-155 The Regional Languages of England and Wales: Welsh and Cornish....Pages 156-186 The Regional Languages of Scotland: Scottish Gaelic and Scots....Pages 187-209 The Regional Languages of Northern Ireland: Irish and Ulster Scots....Pages 210-230 Concluding Comments....Pages 231-235 Back Matter....Pages 236-265 It was traditionally assumed that having a single official language was a necessary condition for the wellbeing of the state, particularly in France and Britain. This work presents the story of their decline, their survival and their efforts to re-establish themselves as effective tools of normal communication. It was traditionally assumed that having a single official language was a necessary condition for the wellbeing of the state, particularly in France and Britain. This assumption is now questioned, and the regional languages are making, in some cases, an impressive comeback. It is the story of their decline, their survival and, more recently their efforts to re-establish themselves as effective tools of normal communication which is tackled in this book. Each language is analyzed in terms of its development from the earliest times, through its period of decline to present-day efforts at regeneration "Alsatian, Basque, Catalan, Corsican, Western Flemish, Occitan, and various languages such as Picard: what have they got in common, if anything, with Welsh, Scottish Gaelic, Irish, and Cornish? Does Cornish even exist anymore? And is Scots a language? And why is Ulster Scots so important today? These are the kind of questions answered in this book, which examines, first of all, how they were partly or totally destroyed by the emergence of French and English. Each language is examined in the context of the overall policies of France and Britain, reference being made in each case of their historical development and the efforts made today to reinstate them."--Jacket The author presents a new approach to the study of language policy, by focusing on language policy formation and implementation as a dynamic, conflict-laden process involving the interaction of various actors with different motivations and uneven bargaining powers, rather than as a product , examinable post hoc from existing language legislation. It was traditionally assumed that a single official language was necessary for the wellbeing of the state, particularly in France and Britain. This assumption is now questioned, and regional languages are making, in some cases, an impressive comeback. This book analyses a range of languages' development, decline and efforts at regeneration.