Historically, they treated other languages within mainland France just as badly, which is what the parent probably refers to. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ver

Historically, they treated other languages within mainland France just as badly, which is what the parent probably refers to. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vergonha https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vergonha My grandparents speak Breton too, though not with me. As children, they used to have their fingers smacked if they happened to say a word in Breton. Back then, the French of the Republic, one and indivisible, was to be heard in all schools and those who dared challenge this policy were humiliated with having to wear a clog around their necks or kneel down on a ruler under a sign that read: "It is forbidden to spit on the ground and speak Breton".[13] That's the reason why some older folks won't transmit the language to their children: it brings trouble upon yourself...