Les nations sont-elles de la compétence des linguistes ?

The relationship between languages and nations can only be understood through the reconstruction of terminological history. There are two opposing conceptions. One is the centralist, contractualist definition, whereby the state precedes the nation. The state is the condition of possibility for the n...

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Main Author: Patrick Sériot
Format: Article
Language:fra
Published: Université de Bretagne Occidentale – UBO 2016-03-01
Series:La Bretagne Linguistique
Subjects:
Online Access:http://journals.openedition.org/lbl/438
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author Patrick Sériot
author_facet Patrick Sériot
author_sort Patrick Sériot
collection DOAJ
description The relationship between languages and nations can only be understood through the reconstruction of terminological history. There are two opposing conceptions. One is the centralist, contractualist definition, whereby the state precedes the nation. The state is the condition of possibility for the nation, and the language becomes established as a national language in the sense of an official, state language (‘subjective’ definition). The other is the Romantic, essentialist definition, whereby language precedes the nation, which in turn precedes the state. Here, the nation is an eternal essence that can exist outside of a state (‘objective’ definition). In the first case, Switzerland is a nation; in the second, it is not. In a comparison of Western and Eastern Europe, this paper examines the discourse on language. Is a border established by the name of a language or by what it implies? If Macedonian is a language, then Macedonia is a nation. If Macedonian is only a dialect of Bulgarian, then Macedonia is not a nation. Conclusion: what is said in a language is more important than the language in which it is said.
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spelling doaj.art-0d279ac1f40244d7a83dd2268d4dfc382023-12-06T16:24:12ZfraUniversité de Bretagne Occidentale – UBOLa Bretagne Linguistique1270-24122727-93832016-03-012013514610.4000/lbl.438Les nations sont-elles de la compétence des linguistes ?Patrick SériotThe relationship between languages and nations can only be understood through the reconstruction of terminological history. There are two opposing conceptions. One is the centralist, contractualist definition, whereby the state precedes the nation. The state is the condition of possibility for the nation, and the language becomes established as a national language in the sense of an official, state language (‘subjective’ definition). The other is the Romantic, essentialist definition, whereby language precedes the nation, which in turn precedes the state. Here, the nation is an eternal essence that can exist outside of a state (‘objective’ definition). In the first case, Switzerland is a nation; in the second, it is not. In a comparison of Western and Eastern Europe, this paper examines the discourse on language. Is a border established by the name of a language or by what it implies? If Macedonian is a language, then Macedonia is a nation. If Macedonian is only a dialect of Bulgarian, then Macedonia is not a nation. Conclusion: what is said in a language is more important than the language in which it is said.http://journals.openedition.org/lbl/438contractualismculturecivilisationdiscourse on languageethnicityEastern Europe
spellingShingle Patrick Sériot
Les nations sont-elles de la compétence des linguistes ?
La Bretagne Linguistique
contractualism
culture
civilisation
discourse on language
ethnicity
Eastern Europe
title Les nations sont-elles de la compétence des linguistes ?
title_full Les nations sont-elles de la compétence des linguistes ?
title_fullStr Les nations sont-elles de la compétence des linguistes ?
title_full_unstemmed Les nations sont-elles de la compétence des linguistes ?
title_short Les nations sont-elles de la compétence des linguistes ?
title_sort les nations sont elles de la competence des linguistes
topic contractualism
culture
civilisation
discourse on language
ethnicity
Eastern Europe
url http://journals.openedition.org/lbl/438
work_keys_str_mv AT patrickseriot lesnationssontellesdelacompetencedeslinguistes