Gender-Fair Language in a Minority Setting: The Case of Breton Cover Image

Gender-Fair Language in a Minority Setting: The Case of Breton
Gender-Fair Language in a Minority Setting: The Case of Breton

Author(s): Michael Hornsby
Subject(s): Sociolinguistics
Published by: Uniwersytet Adama Mickiewicza
Keywords: Breton; minority language; gender-fair language; new speakers;

Summary/Abstract: This paper explores the use of the Breton language (Brittany, North-West France) in contexts where speakers wish to signal their commitment to social equality through their linguistic practices. This is done with reference to examples of job advertisements which have pioneered the use of gender-fair language in Breton. Linguistic minorities are often portrayed as clinging to the past. This paper, however, sheds a different light on current minority language practices and demonstrates a progressive and egalitarian response to modernity among some current speakers of Breton, in their attempts to assume gender-fair stances.

  • Issue Year: 2019
  • Issue No: 4
  • Page Range: 59-74
  • Page Count: 16
  • Language: English