Regional Dialects Find a Tongue in Modern France

--Reversing centuries of effort to suppress regional dialects, France’s Socialist government decided Wednesday to revive the ancient Breton language. But the move, which also affects Provencal and other regional tongues, brought anger from foes of any dilution of a centralist tradition dating back to the 17th Century. “The destruction of French culture, French unity--in a word, the nation--will follow from this operation,” former Prime Minister Michel Debre said. A century ago, French schoolchildren who spoke Breton were punished by having to stand in class with a wooden shoe tied around their necks. Now they may speak it freely. Under the plan presented by Culture Minister Jack Lang, a special council will promote the traditional cultures of Brittany, the southern Languedoc region and other areas through schooling, exhibitions and festivals. “We should recognize the identity and encourage the expression of languages and cultures particular to certain regions or communities,” Lang said.

--Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres has been named “fittest statesman in the world” by an American body-building magazine. Dan Lurie, publisher of Muscle Training Illustrated, presented him with a gold-plated trophy in Jerusalem. “From all my research, Peres seemed the fittest of all statesmen,” Lurie said. Peres, 62, is a heavy smoker who lists his chief recreation as reading and watching Arabic soap operas on television.

--The Rev. Norman Vincent Peale has donated 3 1/2 acres of land near his magazine headquarters in Putnam County, N.Y., to be used for housing for the elderly.

--Somehow the name Alexis no longer seems to fit his young Labrador retriever, Jim Pappas says. The dog was found alive in the wreckage of Delta Flight 191 and Pappas says the name Lucky is more fitting now. Pappas couldn’t believe it when a Delta cargo supervisor called and told him the dog was alive. “I was flabbergasted,” Pappas said. The dog was being shipped to Pappas by a friend in Florida. Rescue workers found it in the remains of the plane’s tail section. After spending several nights with a veterinarian provided by Delta, the lucky dog went home with Pappas to Duncanville, a Dallas suburb.