The three partners of language planning and the revitalization of the Basque language in the Northern Basque Country

Authors

  • Jean-Baptiste Coyos University of Bordeaux 3 and University of Pau Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1558/sols.v7i1-2.133

Keywords:

Northern Basque Country, Basque language, Revitalization, The three partners model

Abstract

This paper deals with the current situation of the Basque language and the policy implemented in its favor in the Northern Basque Country or French Basque Country. One of the aims is to show the limits of the public linguistic policy implemented, for the first time, by the authorities. If the commitment of the associations of support for the language is important, that of society as a whole is less, even if the latter becomes gradually more favorable. From a general point view, we can say that three partners or protagonists are involved in the process of recovery or loss of a language. In one way or another, the government and regional and local authorities are the decision-makers and financial backers, the agents of the linguistic policy are the providers, project managers, society and citizens are the addressees/beneficiaries. This leads me to develop a theory of the actors in the process of revitalization or loss of a language, the Three Partners Model, as a descriptive and explanatory framework.

Author Biography

  • Jean-Baptiste Coyos, University of Bordeaux 3 and University of Pau
    Jean-Baptiste Coyos (1952, Mauléon Licharre France). Doctor of General Linguistics (Ph.D. in 1998, Paris Descartes University-Sorbonne). Lecturer at the Basque Studies Department of the University of Pau in Bayonne (France). Member of the Basque Text and Language Study Center –UMR 5478 (CNRS, University of Bordeaux 3 and University of Pau) in Bayonne. Member of Euskaltzaindia (Royal Academy of the Basque Language) since 2010. Research interests: Basque language, souletine dialect, minority languages, linguistic policies.

Published

2013-12-29

How to Cite

Coyos, J.-B. (2013). The three partners of language planning and the revitalization of the Basque language in the Northern Basque Country. Sociolinguistic Studies, 7(1-2), 133-149. https://doi.org/10.1558/sols.v7i1-2.133