Abstract
The present paper analyses the self-representation of the activists in the Breton regionalist movement in order to understand their activities and strategies which aimed to achieve the autonomy of Brittany within the frame of the French state between the late 19th century and the First World War. The Breton regionalism during this period was represented by two regionalist organisations: the Union régionaliste bretonne (URB) founded in 1898 and the Fédération régionaliste de Bretagne (FRB) formed in 1911 as a result of the split from the URB.
The study draws attention to the set of characteristics we call self-representation. The research of self-representation of the Bretons in the regionalist discourse allows us to detect forms of the discourse strategies employed by the regionalists with the purpose of achieving autonomy rights.
The research consists of discourse analysis of the official journals of the URB and the FRB based on the methodology of Ruth Amossy. Considering the interdependence between the presentation of the self and the other, a section of the paper is also dedicated to the question of the representation of the Bretons in the general discourse of the period.
The paper argues that the Breton regionalists modified the self-representation according to the identity issues they faced and thus adjusted their discourse to give the impression of the Brittany which was: different, unified, loyal and sufficiently strong to look after its inhabitants.