Breton has lost 28% of speakers between 1997 and 2007, according to a report launched this week. Brittany's own language is currently spoken by 172,000 people, compared to the 246,000 people who spoke it twelve years ago. Figures refer to the western part of the country, or Low Brittany, where Breton is most spoken.

According to the report 'Parler breton au XXI siècle' (Speaking Breton in the XXI century), the profile of a typical speaker of Breton is that of a woman over 60 living in Penn-ar-Bed (Finistère in French). 12,000 people from 15 to 40 years old speak the language, while the number increases to 120,000 when referring to people over 60.

As MónDivers online journal reports, hopes are pinned on the 15 to 19 years-old youth, who show an increase of language use from 1% to 4%.

Further information:

• L'Express.fr: La langue bretonne de moins en moins parlée, malgré l'effort de formation
• ouest-france.fr: Moins de 200 000 personnes parlent le breton