Publishing in a regional language: the case of Breton in the Twenty-First century

This chapter aims to describe the uses of the Breton language in contemporary society and to reflect on publishing practices in the framework of printing. First, an overview will be presented on the legal situation of Breton and the decline of linguistic use, or bretonnité, contrary to what happens to bretonnitude, or social and cultural behaviours. A literary language for many centuries, Breton has modernised through reforms and innovations which are reflected in particular by the book market. Second, the reflection is carried out in two complementary directions: the need for linguistic visibility should imply a programme of publishing contents of universal scope, in particular literature and philosophy; the book market should develop the bilingual sector in a non-exclusively regional perspective.