Micro-Scale Language Mapping: An Experiment in Wales and Brittany. Discussion Papers in Geolinguistics 2.

The present study is an experiment to investigate the effect which the availability of detailed information on aspects of language distribution may have upon the understanding of processes contributing to language shift. It is an attempt to remedy the deficiencies of official census statistics by an experimental field investigation. Two sections of Wales and Brittany, both on the borders of the Welsh and Breton language areas, were chosen for the study because it was thought that the geographical aspects of language shift might be more apparent there than elsewhere. The discussion focuses on four points: (1) use of available census information; (2) a doorstep survey on language potential and the production of language potential maps; (3) the results of a speaking frequency survey and the frequency maps; and (4) a survey of the variety of situations in which Welsh or Breton might be employed and the mapping of responses to see if there is a correlation between language usage and particular locales or circumstances. The discussion of the study calls attention to the need of more micro-scale geolinguistic studies. (AMH)