[img desc: “A Facebook post by the user Frances May from the 18 of February, 2021, that reads “I write to you on behalf of the Diwan Breton language immersive schools that have existed for 43 years now. The secondary schools (six in all) have been informed that from September 2021, instead of having 3 hours of Breton a week for each class, the French education system will be giving 3 hours per school year. This could mean as little as half an hour a week, as we continue to grow and open new classes. Already for the next school year, there will be 6 year 7 classes on two different sites.
The argument put forward by the government is that our pupils “don’t need” any more lessons, as they are taught other subjects through the medium of Breton. How we will be able to study grammar, literature, and Breton culture with an hour’s lesson a week is a mystery. This argument is baffling to us, as all pupils in French language and literature classes also are taught all subjects through the medium of French, yet, French language and literature classes are maintained.
We have been warned that this is “only the start.” As you know, the Breton language has no official status in France. Only too often we see that the ethos of ‘liberté, égalité, et fraternité’ on which the republic is built does not apply to us. Breton and indeed other minority languages are seen as inferior, and are known as ‘regional languages’ as opposed to French, which is ‘national.’ The lack of official status leaves us constantly vulnerable.
We very much need support from all over the world. Could I ask you to address a letter of support that we could pass on to both the media and regional government? We have worked so hard to maintain a good education for our pupils - Pupils, staff, and parents are deeply hurt by this attack on our basic human rights.
Diolch o galon i chi amm ystried ein sefylla. gan edrych ymlaen i glywed oddi wrthych. Ffran May, athrawes saesneg, skolaj Diwan Gwiseni, cynfyfyrwraig prifysgol Aberystwyth, yn enedigol o Sir Benfro. /img desc.]
This constitutes a further attack on the Breton language by the French government, in keeping with a trend that has been in place since the 1790s (and affects other minority languages and dialects, not just Breton). The language has made great strides in the past few decades, but remains endangered, with this constituting yet another attempt at gutting it. I am begging anyone who can to reblog - I understand that the world is on fire at the minute, I understand that it’s long, but anything to raise awareness would have my immense gratitude.
If you’ve ever felt saddened or angry when I talk about what happened to the medieval manuscripts in Ireland, if you’ve ever appreciated anything I’ve had to say about Celtic Studies, Celtic languages, Celtic literatures…this is the chance to help one very endangered Celtic language out before irreparable damage is done.
Because Tumblr swallows anything that has links, I’ll be reblogging with the relevant links.
origamiaround
jbbartram-illu
germansingergirl
vaporwave
baratheonpilled
