-
GR, GRP, PR: What do the French hiking signs mean?
What are the coloured symbols on French hiking routes? Who paints them there and why?
-
Miss France: glam - but not sexy
Miss France organiser Geneviève de Fontenay fears she is fighting a losing battle to protect her 'Cinderella dream' from vulgarity
-
Normandy Landings visit for Queen
Queen Elizabeth has confirmed a state visit to France, ending rumours she is handing over duties to Charles
Bretons’ rage at language remark
Post office director’s plea to stop using Breton street names so new sorting machines can read them stirs regional anger
THE VICE-president of the Brittany independence party has condemned a suggestion that communes use French street names as “unconstitutional”.
Christian Guyonvarc’h, vice president of the UDB – Union Démocratique Bretonne – said the suggestion was “an intolerable violation of the individual and collective rights of Bretons” and was “a flagrant breach of the recent revision of the French Constitution which has given the first recognition of regional languages”.
The director of mail for La Poste in Brittany, Yves Amiard, called on communes to use French names when addressing letters because new sorting machines could read them more easily.
“Under the pretext of technical reorganisation of sorting, the director of La Poste has undertaken a shocking initiative in asking Bretons to no longer use their language in the naming of their streets and their place-names,” said Mr Guyonvarc’h.
He said he would bring the matter to the regional council of Brittany and added: “What about the Breton families – does La Poste want them to change their name?”