Abstract:
Bretons, making great efforts for recognition in France and trying
to maintain their culture, are divided into Breton speaking and Gallo
speaking people. The Breton movement recognized the aspirations of the
inhabitants of Upper Brittany during the last few years, although Gallo
is still discriminated against by those who think that the bilingualism
of Brittany weakens the force and unity of Bretons. Lusatia is divided
into Upper and Lower. These two parts differ in language, customs and
sociolinguistic situation. The struggle for respecting the rights of the
Slavic minority is impaired by administrative and identification division.
Lower Sorbian and Gallo can be called ‘double minority languages’: as
opposed to the national language and in relation to the one stronger
within the minority group. This situation has both positive and negative
consequences. On one hand, the weaker group takes part in activities
of the stronger group and has a greater chance of survival. One the
other hand, it is subject to enculturation processes, gradually losing its
distinguishing characteristics.
