[Gandur] Sumarskóli í Bretagne

Wed May 18 10:01:30 GMT 2016

Summer School in Breton Heritage

The University of Western Brittany is delighted to announce its second annual Summer School in Breton Language and Heritage Studies. Until last year, scholars with an interest in the Celtic languages and cultures had little opportunity to study the Breton language, literature and culture. Yet, it is sometimes forgotten that there are as many native speakers of Breton (roughly 200,000) as there are native speakers of Welsh. The course provides an excellent opportunity to study one of the two major Brythonic Celtic languages and the only Celtic language to have survived on the continent of Europe. 
Who can apply?

Graduate, postgraduate students as well as university researchers and specialists with an interest in linguistics, sociolinguistics, ethnology and, more particularly, Celtic studies are warmly encouraged to apply. Motivated undergraduate students, non-academics with a foundation in Celtic language or linguistics are also very welcome. It is hoped the course will attract a mix of French and English-speaking participants which will contribute to expanding the horizons of all. No prior knowledge of Breton is required for the level 1 class described below (see Programme).

Location

The Summer School will take place at the University of Western Brittany’s Pôle Universitaire Per Jakez Hélias at Creac’h Gwenn, in the historic, medieval town of Quimper/Kemper, well-known for its and picturesque streets, its Cathedral and for its world-renowned Henriot pottery factory, established in the 17th century. Located at western tip of Brittany in southern Finistère (only 4 ½ hours by TGV and 1 hour by airplane from Paris), Quimper is a beautiful, bustling little city of about 60,000 inhabitants.

Situated at the junction of four rivers, Quimper (Kemper) means “the confluence” in Celtic. It has been the administrative and cultural capital of Finistère (Penn ar Bed, meaning the “end of the world”) for several centuries and boasts many attractions and activities including theatres, cinemas, and first rate museums (the Beaux-Arts museum, the Breton museum, the médiathèque – which contains some of the earliest Breton-language books including the Catholicon, the oldest trilingual dictionary in the world: Breton, Latin, French) as well as excellent restaurants and cafés and pubs. The city is located only 10 kilometres from the sea and the entire region benefits from an excellent public transportation system.

 Breton: a Neglected Celtic Tongue

Because Brittany has long been geographically, culturally and linguistically isolated from the other Celtic-speaking nations of Great Britain and Ireland, where English generally serves as the lingua franca between them, contacts with Breton and French-speaking Brittany have only been sporadic since the 19th century Celtic Renaissance. For this reason, of all the Celtic languages, Breton is perhaps the least known by Celticists around the world. Yet, as those who attended the course discovered last year, the richness and variety of Brittany’s cultural and linguistic traditions are remarkable. We are confident that this year’s participants will share the same opinion.

Breton language classes

Morning language classes will be taught through the medium of Breton, English and, whenever necessary, French. Written supports will all be in English and Breton. We recommend Delaporte’s Elementary Breton-English Dictionary (Hor Yezh) which can be purchased upon your arrival at Coop Breizh in Quimper.

Afternoon lectures will be given through the medium of English and/or French. In those cases where lecturers feel more comfortable giving their talks in French, English handouts or transcriptions will be presented to participants (as well as English translations of the powerpoints) to assist those having only a rudimentary level of French.

 Number of participants and registration deadline

We hope to welcome a total of 20-24 participants to the programme (10/12 per class).  If you are interested, contact us as soon as possible so that we can reserve a place for you. (see below for contact information). The final deadline for registration is May 15, 2016 (subject to change).

 The daily schedule

Class activities, morning and afternoon, will extend from Monday through Saturday morning (with a free afternoon on Saturday and field trips on Sunday). The day will be divided into two parts with morning classes devoted to Breton language instruction and the afternoons reserved for lectures and cultural visits and field trips.

MORNINGS

9:00 to 12:30 – Breton languages classes (level 1)

Level 1 Breton language classes have been designed for complete beginners. Most of the lecturers speak vernacular Cornouaillais varieties of Breton and will concentrate on the living varieties of the spoken language. While oral communication will be stressed, the entire courses will have supports in standard written Breton with grammatical explanations in English. The Breton language lecturers are also English speaking.

 9:00 to 12:30 – Breton languages classes (level 2)

The level 2 Breton-language classes are intended for those who attended the Summer School last year and who would like to reinforce and advance their knowledge of Breton. Participants who already know one or several Celtic languages are encouraged to register for this second level which is essentially conceived for false-beginners and those who already have some grounding in Breton.

AFTERNOON LECTURES AND  CULTURAL ACTIVITIES

13:30 to 16:15 – Breton culture and society

The afternoon lectures will be delivered by leading scholars in their fields, all members of the Centre for Breton and Celtic Research.

A broad range of talks will be proposed dealing with a variety of subjects such as the origins of the Breton language, Breton history, Breton dialectology and sociolinguistics, ethnology (rural and maritime culture), oral Breton literature (ex. the Barzaz Breiz), onomastics, medieval and modern Breton-language literature, Breton maritime culture…

New talks and activities have been planned for those who attended the Summer School in 2015 including a newly designed, hands-on workshop in Breton dialectology in which participants will analyze CRBC field recordings of native Breton speakers. This activity will be organized by specialists in Breton geolinguistics.

Whenever the subject-matter is new to both groups, levels 1 & 2 will attend the lectures together.

 Outings

Level 1 and level 2 groups will both participate in all outings and activities.

·       During the first week of your stay, a visit of medieval Quimper and its cathedral will be organized. Participants are also invited for cocktails at the town hall of Quimper by Mrs. Isabelle Le Bal, Assistant-Mayor and Vice-President of university affairs.

·       A visit to the farm of Kervren in the parish of Saint Yvi will take place during which participants will be introduced to Breton vocabulary linked to rural culture. This will be followed by “merenn vihan”: crêpes, cider and/or coffee. This will be followed by a visit of the Chapel of Locmaria-an-Hent, also in the parish of Saint Yvi.

·       A visit to the fishing town of Concarneau (Konk-Kerne) with its famous fortifications is also planned. This will be followed by an evening meal at a restaurant on the sea front.

·       We shall be visiting the Paul Gauguin museum in Pont-Aven and the nearby fishing village of Doëlan.

·       Finally, a guided visit of the 6th century monastery of Landévennec in the Crozon peninsula is planned, followed by a tour at the Tregarvan School Museum.

EVENING ACTIVITIES

Several evening meals will be offered to participants in Quimper and surrounding area. The well-known traditional singer, Brigitte Kloareg, will introduce participants to Breton and Celtic singing and dancing. Last year, a favorite evening activity was to meet for a drink at the Ceili, a popular pub where Breton beer and cider are on offer and Celtic music is the rule. Quimper is known for its excellent restaurants.

Provisional Programme – Level 1

WEEK 1

Mon. 20/06

9h00 – 10h00
Welcome
10h15 – 12h30
Grammar - Conversation
13h30 – 14h45
History of the Breton language – part 1
15h00 – 16h15
History of the Breton language – part 2
 Tues. 21/06

9h00 – 10h30
Grammar
10h45 – 12h30
Conversation
13h30 – 14h45
History of Brittany – part 1
15h00 – 16h15
History of Brittany – part 2
 Wed. 22/06

9h00 – 10h30
Grammar
10h45 – 12h30
Conversation
13h30 – 14h45
History of Brittany – part 3
15h00 – 16h15
History of Brittany – part 4
 Thurs. 23/06

9h00 – 10h30
Grammar
10h45 – 12h30
Conversation
13h30 – 16h15
Visit of Locronan
 Fri. 24/06

9h00 – 10h30
Grammar
10h45 – 12h30
Conversation
13h30 – 16h15
Traditional Breton dialects and new Breton
 Sat. 25/06

9h00 – 10h30
Grammar
10h45 – 12h30
Conversation
13h30 – 16h15
Free
Sun. 26/06

9h00 – 12h30
Free
13h30 – 16h15
Visit of Landévennec & Menez Hom

 WEEK 2

Mon. 27/06

9h00 – 10h30
Grammar
10h45 – 12h30
Conversation
13h30 – 14h45
Breton ethnology
15h00 – 16h15
Film in Breton and analysis
 Tues. 28/06

9h00 – 10h30
Grammar
10h45 – 12h30
Conversation
13h30 – 16h15
Brittany and the sea – Visit of Concarneau
 Wed. 29/06

9h00 – 10h30
Grammar
10h45 – 12h30
Conversation
13h30 – 14h45
Middle Breton Literature
15h00 – 16h15
Modern Breton Literature                                                                                                                                                                   
Thurs. 30/06

9h00 – 10h30
Grammar
10h45 – 12h30
Conversation
13h30 – 16h15
Discovery of the rural heritage – Visit of the Kervren farm and chapel of Locmaria-an-Hent
 Fri. 01/07

9h00 – 12h30
Visit of Pont-Aven
13h30 – 16h15
Visit of Doëlan
 Sat. 02/07

9h00 – 12h30
Conclusion and final evaluation

Provisional Programme – Level 2

WEEK 1

Mon. 20/06

9h00 – 10h00
Welcome
10h45 – 12h30
Conversation - Grammar
13h30 – 14h45
History of the Breton language – part 1
15h00 – 16h15
History of the Breton language – part 2
 Tues. 21/06

9h00 – 10h30
Conversation
10h45 – 12h30
Grammar
13h30 – 16h15
Transcription and analysis of authentic dialect recordings – part 1
 Wed. 22/06

9h00 – 10h30
Conversation
10h45 – 12h30
Grammar
13h30 – 16h15
Transcription and analysis of authentic dialect recordings – part 2
 Thurs. 23/06

9h00 – 10h30
Conversation
10h45 – 12h30
Grammar
13h30 – 16h15
Visit of Locronan
 Fri. 24/06

9h00 – 10h30
Conversation
10h45 – 12h30
Grammar
13h30 – 16h15
Traditional Breton dialects and new Breton
 Sat. 25/06

9h00 – 10h30
Conversation
10h45 – 12h30
Grammar
13h30 – 16h15
Free
 Sun. 26/06

9h00 – 12h30
Free
13h30 – 16h15
Visit of Landévennec & Menez Hom
 WEEK 2

Mon. 27/06

9h00 – 10h30
Conversation
10h45 – 12h30
Grammar
13h30 – 14h45
Breton ethnology
15h00 – 16h15
Film in Breton and analysis
 Tues. 28/06

9h00 – 10h30
Conversation
10h45 – 12h30
Grammar
13h30 – 16h15
Transcription and analysis of authentic dialect recordings – part 3   – Visit of Concarneau
 Wed. 29/06

9h00 – 10h30
Conversation
10h45 – 12h30
Grammar
13h30 – 14h45
Breton identity
15h00 – 16h15
Reading and analysis of texts from the Barzaz Breiz – Songs by traditional singers
 Thurs. 30/06

9h00 – 10h30
Conversation
10h45 – 12h30
Grammar
13h30 – 16h15
Discovery of the rural heritage – Visit of the Kervren farm and chapel of Locmaria-an-Hent
 Fri. 01/07

9h00 – 12h30
Visit of Pont-Aven
13h30 – 16h15
Visit of Doëlan
 Sat. 02/07

9h00 – 12h30
Conclusion and final evaluation
 The teaching staff

The lecturers are all members of the University of Western Brittany’s Centre for Breton and Celtic Research (Centre de Recherche Bretonne et Celtique). The CRBC has over 40 full-time faculty and researchers and it is the largest structure of its kind in France devoted to Breton and Celtic studies.

Nelly Blanchard, Breton and Celtic Department, senior lecturer, CRBC
Ronan Calvez, Breton and Celtic Department, professor, CRBC
Yann Celton, Director of the Archives of Diocese of Quimper, CRBC
Yves Coativy, History Department, professor, CRBC
Patrick Galliou, English Department, professor, CRBC
Gary German, Summer School Director, English Department, professor, CRBC
Anne Hellegouarc’h, English Department, senior lecturer, CRBC
Patrick Kernevez, Director of the IUP for Heritage Studies, senior lecturer, CRBC
Donatien Laurent, Emeritus professor, Oral Breton literature CRBC
Daniel Le Bris, Breton and Celtic Department, senior lecturer, CRBC
Jean-Yves Le Disez, English Department, senior lecturer, CRBC, Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
Jean Le Dû, Breton and Celtic Department, Emeritus professor, CRBC
Philippe Le Stum, Director and curator of the Musée départemental breton, CRBC
Stéphane Moal, Breton and Celtic Department, senior lecturer, CRBC
Fañch Postic, CRBC/CNRS, Director of the Centre for Oral Breton History, Kernault
Pierrick Pourchasse, Department of Modern History, senior lecturer, CRBC
Jean-François Simon, Department of Ethnology, professor, CRBC
Tanguy Solliec, PhD researcher, Breton linguistics and dialectometry, CRBC
Mannaïg Thomas, Breton and Celtic Department, senior lecture, CRBC
The Centre for Breton and Celtic Research

 The Centre for Breton and Celtic Research (CRBC) is a multidisciplinary research laboratory whose 46 members explore topics and areas of research within Breton and Celtic cultural domains.

The Centre for Breton and Celtic Research (CRBC) is a multidisciplinary research laboratory whose 46 members (historians, linguists, Anglicists and Celticists, enthnologists, sociologists…) explore topics and areas of research within Breton and Celtic cultural domains. They also lead individual or collective research in other fields, across Europe, the Atlantic and beyond.

The five-year project 2012-2016 untitled “Peripheries and identity dynamics” aims to highlight the formation and evolution of identity practices and realities in and about peripheral areas.

The CBRC team is also composed of 60 PhD students, 79 research fellows and 9 administrative and technical staff.

CBRC entity is twofold: CBRC Brest at University of Western Brittany and CRBC Rennes at Rennes 2 University

Contact

              Dr. Gary GERMAN, Summer School Director

		    Ms. Roxane CARREY, Admissions officer

Pôle universitaire Pierre-Jakez Hélias
18 Avenue de la Plage des Gueux
CS 12024
29018 QUIMPER

 33(0)2 90 94 48 00

 summer-school at univ-brest.fr

www.univ-brest.fr/summer-school-en/

We wish to thank the following institutions and organizations for their generous support:

 Conseil Départemental du Finistère

 Quimper Communauté

 Mairie de Quimper

 Centre de Recherche Bretonne et Celtique

 Faculté des Lettres Victor Ségalen
Pôle Universitaire Pierre-Jakez Hélias