The Irish author Diarmuid Ó Breasláin has just published "A Short History of the Breton Language," a work in English that traces about 1,500 years of the history of the Breton language, from its Brittonic origins to its contemporary situation.
Originally from Belfast, Diarmuid Ó Breasláin has been interested in Celtic languages since his adolescence. He learned Irish at school and became involved in the movement for Celtic languages starting in the 1980s. He has also been an editor of "The Celtic Pen," a journal dedicated to the literatures in the six Celtic languages.
This new book dedicated to Breton continues the work of two previous publications. With Paddy Dwyer, he published "A Short History of the Irish Language" in 1995, and then, with the Manx activist Brian Stowell, "A Short History of the Manx Language" in 1996.
In "A Short History of the Breton Language," the author reflects on the historical decline of Breton but also on its resilience and the efforts made to ensure its transmission. He notably discusses the role of writers and musicians, education in Breton, Diwan schools, and the numerous associative initiatives that have contributed to the revitalization of the language.
The choice of English is obviously not trivial. It allows for the presentation of the history of Breton to an international readership that often knows Irish or Welsh better than the last continental Celtic language.
In an interview with "Breizh Amerika," Diarmuid Ó Breasláin elaborates on his background, his interest in Brittany, and the evolution of the situation of Celtic languages since the 1980s. He also explains that he is working on other projects dedicated to the six Celtic nations and languages. See the interview with Diarmuid Ó Breasláin published by Breizh Amerika
