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1.2 Normalization and Encoding of Occitan 

1.2.4 Graphical variants of Occitan

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1.2.4 Graphical variants of Occitan

There are two types of graphical variants in Occitan: the ones due to the multiple graphical systems and the dialectal ones. The processing and the resolution of such a variability will be one of the Occitan-specific goals of the Multext-Cataloc project.

As a beginning, we will define the Occitan language area as we understand it in our work. We will then examine the graphical variants, and then the dialectal ones. The following is not a detailed view of each system, as this will be exposed in the thesis we are working on.

1.2.4.0. Definition of the Occitan language

We will use the definition given by Martin Harris (Harris & Vincent, p. 16) : « The other major branch of Romance found within present-day France is Occitan, the generic name for all those varieties other than Franco-Provençal and Catalan spoken south of the major east-west line in Maps V and VI, forming a great swathe from Provençal through Lengadocian, Auvergnat and Limousin to the very distinctive Gascon south of the Garonne. »

This definition is contested by many willing to separate from the Occitan other "languages" they call Auvergnat, Gascon or Provençal. In the following, these three words, as Limousin, Alpine and Languedocian, will be used only in order to define one of the six dialects of Occitan as we have just defined it.

For the dialectal variation, see 1.2.4.2. The dialects variants.


1.2.4.1. Graphical systems

Today in the Occitan area two graphical systems are broadly used and teached: the Alibert one and the Mistral one. Both systems are not fixed nor homogenous as they change according to the dialects or to various schools. We can add the Bonnaud system, applied to the Auvergnat, and used in a few school entities in Auvergne.

1.2.4.1.1. The Alibert system

From the grammarian Loís (Louis) Alibèrt, it is the heir of the Middle Ages scripta adapted to the modern language first by the Abbot Ros (Roux, a Limousin), Prosper Estiu and Antonin Perbòsc, and finally by Loís Alibèrt who published a grammar and a dictionary for the Languedocian dialect.

Such a system has been adapted to other dialects, for which the acceptance has not been always total: Alpine, Auvergnat, Gascon, Limousin and Provençal. It was also used as a base for the Aranese orthographical standard which take in account local phonologic particularities of this Pyrénées valley variant of the Gascon dialect. 

A. Languedocian

The transcription of Languedocian was studied by Loís Alibèrt. Discrepancies between his Gramatica (Grammar) and his Diccionari (Dictionary), and the not so broad acceptance of further changes by the Institute of Occitan Studies lead to differences of use which do not prevent cross understanding and who are not more important than the ones, for example, between British and American English. For instance:

Some attempts to resolve and eliminate these differences are being made by now. A Council of Occitan Language (Conselh de la Lenga Occitana) created in July 1996 by people from the Linguistic Sector of the IEO and the GIDILOC, will hold its first meeting on the 8th of June 1997. 

B. Alpine or Vivarese-Alpine

The adaptation has been easy. Dialectal particularities are well noted.
We lack of evidence of divergent interpretations or uses of the Alibert system, excepted for the masculine past participle, where some use the classical masculine chantat, when others prefer chantà as the feminine is chantaa or chantaia.

C. Auvergnat

Same remark as for the Alpine. 

D. Gascon

The graphical variantions follow three directions:

Two more important differences are notable:

E. Limousin

The adaptation of the Alibert system to Limousin was done without trouble. The successive works of M. Tintou, G. Gonfroy, P. Desrozier, J. Ros e I. Lavalada included adaptations allowing the simplification of the rules of pronounciation. We lack of infomration on the usage. 

F. Provençal

Attempts of a hybrid system including some Mistral elements have not been successful. The practice of the Alibert system in Provence - based on well done and easy to understand works - is well fixed.

Here exist the same divergences as in Languedocian, as the use of s vs. z in the "izar" suffixes, and others.

We should add the specificities of the Nice subdialect (Niçart) are being studied by the Provence IEO. 

1.2.4.1.2. The Mistral system

From the poet, writer and lexicolog Frederic Mistral, it is now use almost only in the Provençal dialectal area. This system had been adapted to the other dialects, but now the users of such dialects have almost all chosen the Alibert system.

We can include under that name the system of Félibrige Schools Escòla Gaston-Fèbus, Escolo Gabalo and Escolo dou Po, who are the ones with some actual users. 

A. Provençal

The Mistral system is the one of the majority of Occitan speaekrs in Provence. We have no information on graphical divergences. The dialectal variations (Rhône and Mediterranean Provençal, for the most) are written in some texts. Authors like J.-P. Tennevin write some times in "standard mistralian", some times in "marseilles provençal". In Nice the partisans of the Mistral system note the Niçart particularities: feminine endings in -a vs. -o among others. In the Piedmont valleys, the system of the Escolo dou Po is also a local adaptation of the Mistral system. 

B. Gascon

The Escòla Gaston Fèbus system had been abandoned by this Félibrige school which now uses the Alibert one. It is still used by a not very young "Escole Simin Palay". Despite many publications, there is no consistency in the application of the rules of this system. But it is the one of the Simin Palay dictionary which remains the lexical reference book in the Gascon area. 

C. Languedocian

The Escolo Gabalo - the Félibrige school of the Gévaudan (Lozère département) uses both the Alibert system and a specific norm which is an adaptation of the Mistral system to the local dialect. This "grafio gabalo" is recent and there is no known variant.

D. Alpine or Vivarese-Alpine

The Escolo dou Po (the Félibrige school of the Piedmont Occitan-speaking valleys) uses a local adaptation of the Mistral system. It's used along with the Alibert system in the Occitania viva newspaper.

1.2.4.1.3. The Bonnaud system

The Cercle Terre d'Auvergne uses a separated system which is applied to the "Auvergnat language" which is defined as a separate language. Its main theorician is Pierre Bonnaud, who gave his name to the system. A separate study will be necessary as this system uses letters not included in the Latin 1 character set (s and z with acute accent).

1.2.4.2. The dialect variants

The acceptation of the dialectal variation is not consistent in both systems, nor is it inside the systems. Three kinds of variation exist:

  1. Phonetical variations - it is often the first element of differenciation between two dialects - for instance the c/ch palatalizacion separates the 3 Northern dialects from the Southern ones; the evolution of the Latin f to h differentiates the Gascon from the Languedocian)
  2. Morphological variations - the ones in conjugation, for example
  3. Lexical variations

1.2.4.2.1. The dialects

The Occitan language is most commonly divided into 6 dialects: Some consider the Northern Occitan dialects in the interference zone with french (the Croissant) as a distinct dialect they call Marchese.

Other think Alpine is not so far from the Provençal and define a broader "Provençal" which includes both dialects.

Other define as separate languages one or more dialects (and this distinction is not always done on scientific bases):

where Provençal can be used lato sensu (with the Alpine) and the Occitan stricto sensu (that is without the other "language").
Other even consider the Catalan as a part of the Occitan language area.

In our work we will use the traditional 6 dialect use. The Alibert system uses to fairly well distinguish the different dialects. Some linguists as P. Bec also defined broader « diassistèmas, » (diasystems) the Aquitan-Pyrénean (Gascon and Southern Languedocian) and the Alverno-Mediterranean (rest of Occitan). 

1.2.4.2.2. Phonetical variations

A. Alpine

Variations noted:

B. Auvergnat

Variations noted:

C. Gascon

Variations noted:

D. Limousin

Variations noted:

E. Languedocian

Variations noted:

F. Provençal

Variations noted:

1.2.4.2.3. Morphological variations

The writing of such variations is very variable according to the dialectal area and the aim of the publications. The "transcriptions" are often farer away form the "standard" than the modern creative writing.
We have already given some morphological variations in two domains: In the conjugation, differences more or less important are not always written.

1.2.4.2.4. Lexical variations

The dialectal nature of Occitan is also visible in its vocabulary. This differentiation is now in regression as many loan words from dominant languages are the same in all dialects. On the contrary, a new boundary appears in loans to state languages: Occitans from Spain are using Spanish loan words when those from Italy use Italian loan words.

An example of dialectal variation is the word "left". The word gaucha is broadly in use but is considered as a "francism" to be avoided. The word esquèrre is current in a part of the Gascon area. The Limousin can use mance, the Provençal and a part of the Languedocian use senèstre. Etc.

Another example is the use of a kind to design a species. The word "mushroom" can be camparòl, coderlon, mossairon", "cèp". The word "bucket" would be ferrat, blachin, selha which can be generic or design only a variety, a metal bucket (ferrat), a wood bucket (selha), a special use... Today's gardener ferrat, in plastic, can be called by any of these words, the other ones being considered as synonyms.

The other lexical variation comes from the dominant language. It is a long time since the comuna (townhall) has become the mairia or the ajuntament, according to the country in which the Gascon village is situated, France or Spain. The events are the eveniments on one side of the boundary, the aconteciments on the other one...

These lexical variations are accepted in all the systems, but the teaching can reduce them. They should be considered as the expression of a great lexical variety rather than as a negative factor to the language survival.

1.2.4.3. Additional remarks

 
In order to manage these variations in an automatic processing, we will have to define them better.

The issue is here sociolinguistical and also linked to the practical side of the action to maintain a language: what are the ways to maintain a dialectal teaching, which level of dialectality should be taken in account, and so on.

Such issues have lead people to try and define a standard language, but there are many definitions of such a standard according to different schools.

Globally we can find two standards:

In the first case there are variations as many schools defined many standards. Such a language is called "estandard", "referencial", "normat", "larg". In both standards there are also oppositions between the hardliners vowing to see the disappearance of the dialects and other willing to respect a more or less extended variety. Finally there are people favouring the teaching of each dialectal variety, without the need to establish a standard language.

CNRS

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