Occitan : The Plight of a Regional Language

This book concerns the status of Lenga d'c (Occitan) and its relationship with the State, and tries to shed light on the conflicting issues over minority languages in France. It also assesses French language policies and addresses key issues related to the curtailing of the linguistic freedom, and more specifically to Occitan.Results from a case study conducted in Tarbes, in Bigorre, bring some insights into the current attitudes and practices of Occitan speaking in this area of Occitania, with potential implications for the future.The book also examines the status of Occitan from an historical point of view and analyses various studies dealing with successive language policies of the French government as regards regional languages. It also reappraises the current position of the Occitan language and its future