GALLO

I find it hard to see a pursuit of objectivity.
This short text may contribute to a reflection.

I have respect for all cultures, and showing it is the least
one can do, helping people who are attached to it for their own dignity and confidence in themselves.
However, the pursuit of undeniable truth certainly does not go against what I have just said.

I still have not seen it demonstrated that there is a Gallo in Brittany with a distinct global identity from the Gallo of Mayenne.
However, I believe there are, as everywhere, various variations within a larger whole, which itself spans between Brittany and neighboring territories.
Until proven otherwise, I consider Gallo as common to East Brittany and the region to the east.
And this makes Gallo a cross-border language or dialect (depending on perspectives once again*) and Breton the only specific language of Brittany.
This specificity of Breton (the last Celtic language of continental Europe) is a reality. Some defenders of Gallo simply ignore it. But others refuse to face it, through what seems like misplaced pride (sorry to say, it borders on manipulation).
I am in favor of giving the culture of the Marches of Brittany everything offered by the status of National Minorities (and thus a national minority within a national minority). In this status, all the dignity of the Gallo people is recognized.

Another thought, there are two Upper Brittanys:

The one that has never spoken Breton: the border region, the Northern and Southern Marches, except for the two coastal parts. But this territory without Breton culture can still take an interest in its older Celtic roots, like those of France (and they have more reasons not to hide them!). Its attachment to Brittany mainly consists of the strong historical imprint: the fortresses facing the former French enemy (whom we do our best to make a friend…).

The Western Upper Brittany, “western” even though it extends along the coast to the Breton border (Pontorson in the north and Noirmoutier in the south), is marked by Breton culture and language, which its inhabitants must constantly pronounce (with varying success) for the names of many places and people. The memory of this Breton-speaking Upper Brittany is a strong memory that extends to material aspects (inheritance rights, division of plots as described by Jean-Bernard Vighietti).

There is even a false Upper Brittany, where Breton was spoken as recently as in parts of the official Lower Brittany: the Guérande peninsula. This area and eastern Morbihan could claim to be part of Lower Brittany.

There would therefore be legitimacy to a differentiated status for these two (or three) Upper Brittanys.

Last observation on the subject: The two capitals, Nantes and Rennes, have ALWAYS spoken Breton, as there has always been a population coming from the west. But let’s not forget that Breton was spoken “naturally” in their large suburbs (Langan and Langoet, just a stone’s throw from Rennes, prove this).

All this to say, there is no reason to refuse an increasing presence of the Brezhoneg throughout the Breton territory, in the same way that French can be present. Gallo, the expression of the Gallo national minority, deserves its full place in Upper Brittany, even more so in the border zone and of course in Mayenne and neighboring territories. It would be reasonable for Gallo to encroach on the French language and not on the Breton language in its visibility, in schools, and in the media. To achieve this, Paris would either have to realize it spontaneously (?!), or autonomous power should be able to implement it.

* The Alsatians, the Genoese, and the Swiss Alemannic people consider that they speak a dialect, without feeling humiliated at all. The Quebecois do not consider themselves outside the Francophonie.

THERE ARE MANY AREAS WHERE I WOULD LIKE TO BROADEN (WHEN I CAN) MY REFLECTIONS ON A SMALL SCALE, SUCH AS SOCIAL ISSUES, ECOLOGY, OR PHILOSOPHY, SPIRITUALITY. BUT I BELIEVE PEOPLE DO NOT EXPECT ME TO LEAVE THE ARTISTIC ASIDE!

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