Brittany

:This article is about the historical duchy and French province, as well as the cultural area of Brittany. For the current French administrative region of Bretagne, see Bretagne. For other meanings, see Brittany (disambiguation).

Language

French, the official language of the French Republic, is spoken all over Brittany, but the region has two other languages: Breton, a Celtic language related to Welsh; and Gallo, a Romance language related to French.

Related Topics:
French - Official language - Breton - Celtic language - Welsh - Gallo - Romance language

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In rural areas, Breton was traditionally spoken in the west (the "Basse-Bretagne"), and Gallo in the east. The dividing line stretched from Plouha on the north coast to a point to the south-west of Vannes. French had, however, long been the main language of the towns. The Breton-speaking area formerly covered territory much further east than its current distribution. In the Middle Ages, Gallo expanded into formerly Breton-speaking areas. Now restricted to a much reduced territory in the east of Brittany, Gallo finds itself under pressure not only from the dominant Francophone culture, but also from the Breton language revival which is gaining ground in territory that was never part of the Breton-speaking area. A large influx of English-speaking immigrants and second-home owners in some villages sometimes adds to linguistic tensions.

Related Topics:
Basse-Bretagne - Language revival - Second-home

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Privately funded Diwan ("Seed") schools, where classes are taught in Breton by the immersion method, play an important part in the revival of the Breton language. The issue of whether they should be funded by the State has long been, and remains, controversial. Some bilingual classes are also provided in ordinary schools.

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A few bilingual (Breton and French) road signs may be seen in some areas, especially in the traditional Breton-speaking area. Signage in Gallo is much rarer.

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