Mixed messages from French national Assembly on minority languages

The status of the Breton language took an unusual turn last Thursday
(22nd May), as a proposed amendment to the French Constitution was
voted for by the French National Assembly in Paris.

The amendment states that the 'regional' languages of France are part
of the heritage of France, but the new amendment will only apply to
Article 1 of the Constitution and not the much disputed Article 2,
which states that the language of France is French. The amendment
has therefore received only a lukewarm response by Breton nationalist
parties like the Union Démocratique Bretonne, because of its restricted
nature.

Also campaigners are asking why, earlier this month, Members of the
National Assembly rejected recognition of the 'regional' languages
of France, only to seemingly change their mind with this latest amendment.
The new amendment still needs to be ratified by the French Senate,
which seems likely, but whether this new amendment will change anything
in real terms remains to be seen.

Some, like 2007 French Presidential Candidate Francois Bayrou, see
the amendment as an important step towards the ratification by France
of the European Charter for Regional or Minority languages, but most,
understandably, remain highly sceptical.

See related articles in Celtic News at:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/celtic_league/message/2606
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/celtic_league/message/2601
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/celtic_league/message/2561
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/celtic_league/message/2422
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/celtic_league/message/2176
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/celtic_league/message/2144
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/celtic_league/message/2082
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/celtic_league/message/2074
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/celtic_league/message/1613
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/celtic_league/message/997
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/celtic_league/message/648
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/celtic_league/message/108


J B Moffatt
Director of Information
Celtic League

26/05/08


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