Multilingual Early Language Transmission (MELT) - Mercator ...

2.5 Brittany in France
2.5.1 Background information
In January 2007, the population of historic Brittany was estimated to be 4,365,500. 56
Approximately 450,000 people understand Breton and the most recent census (2007) shows
about 200,000 speakers.
The Breton language is spoken mainly by inhabitants in the region of Brittany in the west of
France, but also spoken in the main cities in the east called Breizh Uhel ‘Upper Brittany’.
Almost all speakers are bilingual, they also speak fluent French. Breton language is a regional
language in France. It is recognized in the French constitution as the other regional
languages of France since 2008: “The regional languages are part of the French heritage”.
Traditionally Breton is the language of a large part of Brittany, but over the centuries the
linguistic border gradually moved westwards. Linguistically, Breton forms part of the
Brittonic branch of the Celtic languages, to which Welsh and Cornish also belong. 57
Several factors 58 have contributed to the decrease in numbers of speakers. Some social and
economic developments have led to the decrease of Breton speakers; most Breton-speakers
were farmers, fishermen and people in the rural areas, Breton was affected particularly by
economic changes such as migration towards the cities in the last 30 years. Further, some
official State behaviour was negative for the Breton language; In 1972, Mr Georges
Pompidou, then President of France, stated that there was no place for regional languages.
However, since the Deixonne law (1951 59 ) and subsequent implementation measures,
Breton language and culture may be taught for up to three hours per week in public
education if the teacher is willing and able to do so. To preserve the Breton language and
culture a few parents created the first Diwan 60 school at Lampaul-Ploudalmézeau (Breton:
Lambaol-Gwitalmeze) near Brest in 1977. The Diwan is an organisation of parents and
teachers who wish to create cultural surroundings favouring the Breton language by means
of schools. The first bilingual class in a public school opened in 1983 and the first bilingual
class in a catholic school opened in 1990 61 .
56
Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breton_language [Accessed June 2011].
57
Mercator European Research Centre on Multilingualism and Language Learning, Regional Dossiers http://www.mercatorresearch.eu/research-projects/regional-dossiers
[Accessed June 2011].
58
For more descriptions about the factors which have led to Breton becoming a threatened language: Mercator European Research Centre
on Multilingualism and Language Learning, Regional Dossiers http://www.mercator-research.eu/research-projects/regional-dossiers
[Accessed June 2011].
59
A primary school teacher explained in a letter how the love of Breton is not incompatible with the love of France and how pedagogically
the use of Breton is a tremendous tool to achieve a higher degree of fluency and accuracy in French. The letter is addressed to Maurice
Deixonne, who was in charge to draft the legislative proposal which led to the formal, but limited, recognition of regional languages in
1951. The original letter can be found in OURS (Office Universitaire de Recherche Socialiste, Paris) http://lslvm-pm4.ecs.soton.ac.uk/2239/
[Accessed June 2011].
60
The Diwan website: http://www.diwanbreizh.org/?lang=french [Accessed June 2011].
61
NPLD, the questionnaires from the project ‘Pre-School Education’ (2010). http://www.npld.eu/currentprojectsbestpractise/pre-
schooled/pages/default.aspx [Accessed June 2011].
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