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In:Desired Language: Languages as objects of national ideology
Edited by Francesc Feliu
[IVITRA Research in Linguistics and Literature 35] 2023
► pp. 153–169

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Plus ça change…?

Linguicide, linguistic suicide and image planning for the French langues régionales

 | University of Edinburgh
Published online: 4 January 2023
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https://doi.org/10.1075/ivitra.35.08mcn
Abstract
The positioning of French as the official, explicit cornerstone of French Republican values has arguably remained unchanged since the Revolution. France’s relationship with the other linguistic varieties native to its territory, however, has been somewhat more volatile, culminating in the decimation of its so-called langues régionales. Such processes have been described concurrently within the academic literature from two opposing perspectives: “linguicide” and “linguistic suicide”. This chapter begins by examining the implications of each, before – drawing on the notion of “image planning” (Ager, 2005) – arguing that they must be seen as necessarily interconnected. Following this, the evolution of France’s ideological portrayal of its indigenous minority languages throughout history, through implicit and explicit language policies, is examined, and their impact upon speakers’ usage of, and attitudes towards, these languages considered. Finally, recent developments in macro policy are discussed, including their potential for reversing the effects of historical, institutionally reinforced, negative images.
Keywords:
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Language policy and planning
  • 3.Linguistic suicide
  • 4.Linguicide
  • 5.Resolving the conflict…?
  • 6.Active Linguicide in France
  • 7.Passive Linguicide in France
  • 8.Attitude shift and linguistic suicide
  • 9.Signs of change?
  • 10.Conclusion and next steps
  • Acknowledgements
  • Notes
  • References
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