Occitan afternoon

Dr Catherine Leglu presented her talk

Each year Laguepie has an Universite Occitan, exploring all aspects of the culture of Occitanie, from language and literature to music and dance.
In recent years English specialists have presented papers and this year a lecturer from the University of Reading gave an illustrated talk on the impact of the presence of "English" rulers and their claims in Gascony and Aquitaine.
Scheduled as a two hour talk it nevertheless lasted a little over 75 minutes and was consequently a little fragmented.

To the specialists in the audience it was probably a fascinating exposition, but to TAG's representative it was more "interesting in parts, less so in others". For a very hot July 14th afternoon the organisers must have been pleased with the turn out, with many TAG readers present. It did seem that the Anglo-Saxon part of the audience preferred wine to the offered tea, and the "cocons" were not mysterious at all, just a type of fouace.
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Some of the audience seemed to get bored


Basque school forced to close

An ikastola in the Basque coast town of Ciboure has been forced to close after the local maire refused to renew its lease and cut off the power and water. Primary schools are forbidden to teach in minority languages, such as Basque or Occitan. There are in fact many private schools which do that, often with financial support from local mairies. The local Occitan language practised by older residents is only taught as an option in secondary schools and is being kept alive by the young musicians and poets such as those appearing at Parisot on Saturday (see post below). Basque is a recognised language in north west Spain so the subject is more sensitive in that region than Occitan is here, but it is a shame that a part of a culture is threatened by a recalcitrant maire.
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Well done Gavin

Hi Val
How's this for integration - Gavin has an article published in this week's edition of the Occitan language newspaper, La Setmana. It's on the Scottish legal system and he wrote it in Occitan. Not an easy subject in English, let alone Occitan (or even French!)
Doreen
Val says: well done Gavin, what a remarkable achievement.
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Occitan classes in St. Antonin

Weekly Occitan classes are held in St Antonin. They cater for beginners as well as more advanced speakers. For more information, contact Gavin Porter on 

gavinporter@orange.fr

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