Research
My research program demonstrates the impact of individuals’ actions and attitudes on the use of non-French languages in Francophone societies. As a sociolinguist, my work draws on ideas from various disciplines to address questions about the role of language in society. The following are descriptions of a few of my most recent projects.
Agents of language revitalization in Picard
This project investigates the agency of individual actors, organizations, and communities in the standardization of Picard, a minoritized language in northern France and Belgium. Using qualitative data from interviews, participant observation, and publicly available texts, the results demonstrate the ways in which social actors at all levels have the power to influence language revitalization efforts. These findings contribute to current trends in the field of language policy and planning, which challenge the traditional idea that states and education systems are the principal actors in language revitalization.
The "uncanny valley" of France's regional languages
Using empirical data, this study investigates the idea that the regional languages of France that are considered similar to French are typically seen as less prestigious than those which are clearly distinct from it. To evaluate this, the results of a survey measuring perceived linguistic distance are compared with those of a survey collecting language attitudes. Results show a significant correlation between perceived proximity to French and negative attitudes, suggesting an “uncanny valley” effect that has implications for minority language revitalization efforts, especially for contested languages both in France and around the world. These findings provide evidence that minoritized languages' perceived proximity to a dominant majority language may negatively affect public attitudes toward those languages, even when attitudes judgements are based on the sound of the language alone.
Attitudes toward neologisms in Breton
This project investigates the use of neologisms and French borrowings in Breton. L1 speakers of Breton traditionally use borrowings from French to fill lexical gaps, while L2 speakers have been shown to prefer Celtic-based neologisms. However, in actual practice, do L2 speakers prioritize the use of “correct” neologisms taught in language courses, or do they use French borrowings to target the “authentic” speech of L1 Breton speakers? In addition, how do they define authentic Breton, and is authenticity important to them? This study investigates these questions using a questionnaire that collects quantitative and qualitative data from L2 speakers of Breton. Results show that these speakers have a complex idea of authentic Breton: while they agree that L1 speakers have the most authentic speech, they also believe that neologisms are the most authentic, even though L1 varieties typically prefer borrowings.
