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Yann Fransez Vari ar GonidegFrench linguist
Date of Birth: 04.09.1775
Country:  France |
Content:
Early Life and Education
Jean-François Le Gonidec was born on September 4, 1775, in the town of Le Conquet, in western Brittany, France. Born into a minor noble family, Le Gonidec received his education at Tréguier from 1787 to 1791.
Career
Le Gonidec later participated in the Chouan uprising that occurred during the French Revolution. After the war, he joined the French Navy in 1804 and subsequently worked in the forestry department, overseeing the procurement of materials for shipbuilding. He is known to have lived in Paris, Hamburg, Nancy, and Moulins, before eventually settling in Angoulême.
Contributions to Breton Language
Le Gonidec's major contributions to the Breton language began with the publication of his "Grammaire celto-bretonne" in 1807, the second grammar book of the Breton language after Julien Maunoir's "Enseignement Chrestien" (1659). In 1803, Le Gonidec became a member of the short-lived "Académie Celtique" in Paris, which was later renamed the Société des Antiquaires de France. In 1821, he published his "Dictionnaire celto-breton," which was reissued in 1850 by Théodore Hersart de la Villemarqué, a Breton folklorist and writer.
Inspired by the role the Welsh Bible played in the preservation of the Welsh language, Le Gonidec embarked on the project of translating the Bible into Breton. While his translation of the New Testament was completed, its publication was banned until 1827 by a Protestant organization in England. In 1821, he published the church-approved "Katekiz historik" (Historical Catechism).
Later Years and Legacy
In 1833, Le Gonidec moved to Paris. His "Dictionnaire français-breton" was published in 1837. Jean-François Le Gonidec died on October 12, 1838, and was buried in his hometown of Le Conquet. His work greatly influenced the development of the modern Breton language. His orthographical reform was adopted by Théodore Hersart de la Villemarqué, the leading authority on Breton language and culture, and implemented in his "Barzaz Breiz" (Collection of Breton Ballads). After 1840, Le Gonidec's orthography was also adopted by the Catholic Church, with the support of Bishop Joseph-Marie Graveran of Quimper.
