Abstract
Language policy at national, regional and local levels can impact on both the endangerment and revitalization of languages. In the case of France, the linguistic policies implemented by the state over several centuries have significantly contributed to the decline and endangerment of the regional languages spoken in the country. At the same time, regional and municipal authorities in many areas of France are working to save the languages found in their respective regions, and are implementing policies of their own in order to do so. This chapter examines the case of Occitan, a regional language spoken in the south of France, looking at how the regional and municipal authorities are working to bring about its revitalization. Taking the policies of two neighbouring regions — Languedoc-Roussillon and Midi-Pyrénées — I will show that regional and municipal governments are often best placed to engage in endangered language revitalization policies.
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© 2015 Laura Carmel Diver
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Diver, L.C. (2015). The Role of Meso- and Micro-Level Language Policy in the Revitalization of Occitan in France. In: Davies, W.V., Ziegler, E. (eds) Language Planning and Microlinguistics. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137361240_11
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137361240_11
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, London
Print ISBN: 978-1-349-47224-6
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