Ah, language—the great connector of humanity and the battlefield of ideologies. While some fight over how many genders a pronoun can bend around, Bernard Cerquiglini has spent decades on a crusade to reveal the intricate nuances of what actually makes languages tick. Born in 1947 in Lyon, France, this French linguist isn't afraid of wading into linguistic territory that would have liberal agenda-setters in a tizzy. Fresh from the classrooms of Denis Diderot University and the prestigious School for Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences, Cerquiglini became a renowned name for his contributions to French linguistics.
Cerquiglini carved out his own niche, focusing particularly on the so-called 'historical orthography' of the French language. While talk shows and social media debates around the world keep us in a perpetual unending loop of divisive language wars, he quietly goes about his business of tracing back centuries of linguistic evolution. Humbly accepting that language changes over time? How dare he not bow to trendy, politically crafted lexicons? For Cerquiglini, every word is a story, a historical marker of the cultures and concerns that molded it. He strikes at the roots of language evolution, which many would argue contradict the modern crusade for an artificial 'PC' language free of any perceived offense.
This giant in the field unapologetically bends words to his purpose, which is to reveal linguistic truths that most would rather sweep under the rug in favor of a utopian language where everything and anything goes as it pleases. Let’s take 'non-standard French', for example. Cerquiglini champions these dialects, digging into them to understand and appreciate their unique layers instead of ignoring or discarding them. His 1995 book, Une Langue orpheline, is essentially a poetic exploration of these forgotten dialects, elevating non-mainstream French to a position of significance.
So why does he get under so many skins? Well, Bernard has this quirky way of sidestepping the politically constructed minefields of the linguistic world to center language itself. Yes, Cerquiglini has taken part in various official capacities, including roles in the French Ministry of Education and as Vice-President of the Institut National de la Langue Française. Yet through all of that, he's remained a scholarly tornado, smashing through the calcified walls of linguistic orthodoxy that some would like to dress in the chains of politics.
It’s fascinating that he engages in the study of orthographic reforms and was involved in reshaping the French orthography in the 1990s. He’s interacted with governments and stone-carved institutions but refuses to kowtow to their whims. Why ought language bend to hastily thought-out political versions of fairness? Instead, he addresses complex linguistic systems with the straightforwardness of scientific curiosity.
While some might cling to the latest linguistic fads, Cerquiglini operates on the facts, rejecting the idea that language is malleable clay to be molded without understanding what precedes it. This unswerving dedication to actual linguistic complexities while sidestepping ideological landmines is probably what makes Cerquiglini so divisive—because commitment to truth invites disdain from those who thrive in the murky waters of ambiguity.
When you think about it, Bernard’s approach to linguistics exposes a significant truth about human societies. The historical analysis of language isn’t just neutral ground; it’s a revelation of how people actually live, love, and express themselves, not how some think they should. In exploring the French language’s orthography, dialects, and history, Bernard Cerquiglini opens a window to understanding not just words, but humanity itself.
His work reminds us that the roots of language often hold more secrets to our shared states than proclaimed by those who simply want to rewrite linguistic history without understanding it. Navigating through Cerquiglini's body of work, you see not just a love for language, but also a deep respect for the structures underpinning it—something all too rare in today's fleeting fascination with the new and untested.
Whether championing the value of dialects pushed to the margins or discussing linguistic transformations through history, Bernard’s focus remains unyielding, contemplating more what 'is' instead of what some say 'should be'. Cerquiglini’s lifelong scholarly endeavor is indeed a rebellion against an incursion into language that seeks but to conform to the latest pressures rather than comprehend the fascinating wealth of history and humanity it already holds.