Chapter 6
Deconstructing the idea of language
The effects of the patoisation of Occitan in France
Patois is a term used to refer to some varieties of language of contested legitimacy. Close to
dialect, it implies a nuance based on the diminished function and supposedly unpolished
form of the language used. The application of the term patois to French linguistic
communities is not accidental. It is a socio-historical process that can be analysed in parallel with the
implementation of language policies made to promote French as the sole language of a nation-state. This chapter
demonstrates that the application of this linguistic denomination is neither innocent nor objective. Indeed, the
semantic evolution of the term itself indicates an increasingly disparaging connotation which has led to a submissive
effect on the community of speakers of Occitan. Furthermore, a devaluing impact can be identified in the discourse of
speakers when referring to their own language. Thus, this chapter will establish the link between the ideological
notion of linguistic superiority of the national language and the micro-levelled declaration of speakers’ attitudes,
and will therefore highlight the connection between macro language policies and speakers’ socio-psychological
self-evaluation.
Article outline
- 1.Introduction
- 2.Establishment of a dominance
- 3.History of the word patois and its application to Occitan
- 4.Socio-psychological effects on the Occitan community
- 5.Conclusion
-
Notes
-
References
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