BZH New York organized in New York a conference to defend regional languages in France

Breton speaking people were prosecuted in France : in schools it was forbidden to speak breton as well as spitting on the floor.

As people gathered across numerous cities of France in defense of their regional languages (voir notre article), BZH New York joined with other French regional associations of New York to organize a conference at City University of New York to highlight the endangered status of our languages.

The panel discussion was led by: Charles Kergaravat, president BZH New York; Marie-Reine Jezequel of the Diwan movement; Thierry Kranzer, President of l'Union Alsacienne de NY; Michela Cresci, CUNY Graduate Center; Jason Sanderson, Georgetown University, Lisa Gouffrant, Basque Committee of NY, moderated by Daniel Kaufman, Endangered Language Alliance, and Juliette Blevins, Endangered Language Initiative, CUNY.

A largely American audience gained a better understanding of viability and continuity of our regional languages, causes of endangererment, non signature by France of the European Charter of Regional or Minority Languages, benefits of Biligualism, language revitalization programs, practices, and conservation and revitalization. (voir le site)

BZH New York would like to offer special thanks to CUNY and the Endangered Language Alliance for hosting us for this historic event. www.bzh-ny.org

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