Hou Yau
email: hyau@fdnresearch.us

Thin Shell with Fictitious Motions

We show that a spherical thin shell with fictitious radial motions can mimic the gravitational effects of a massive spherical thin shell. These fictitious radial motions (either with a uniform velocity or oscillate about the thin shell) are not physical motions of the thin shell. Instead, we use their hypothetical effects on time and distance measurements to define the spacetime metric on the surface of the timelike thin shell. The system with fictitious motions is spherically symmetric with time translational and time reflection symmetries. The external spacetime outside the thin shell is static and satisfies the Schwarzschild solution for the gravitational field of a spherically symmetric mass.

Introduction

The Schwarzschild metric has a remarkably simple form. Its diagonal time component, g tt , is inversely proportional to its diagonal radial component, g rr [START_REF] Jacobson | When is g tt g rr = -1?[END_REF]. Because of this simple form, many attempts have been made to reconcile the metric by invoking the reciprocity of time dilation and length contraction in special relativity [START_REF] Kassner | A physics-first approach to the Schwarzschild metric[END_REF]. For instance, the Schwarzschild metric can be written as,

ds 2 = [1 - v(r) 2 c 2 ]dt 2 -[1 - v(r) 2 c 2 ] -1 dr 2 -r 2 dΩ 2 , (1)
where v(r) = -(2GM/r) 1/2 . It happens that v(r) is the free falling velocity of a particle with zero initial velocity at infinity. The diagonal time and radial metric components can then be expressed in terms of the time dilation and length contraction observed for a moving object with velocity v(r). As advocated in refs. [START_REF] Lenz | Electrodynamics[END_REF][START_REF] Schiff | On experimental tests of the general theory of relativity[END_REF][START_REF] Harwit | Astrophysical Concepts[END_REF][START_REF] Rowlands | A simple approach to the experimental consequences of general relativity[END_REF][START_REF] Czerniawski | The possibility of a simple derivation of the Schwarzschild metric[END_REF][START_REF] Cuzinatto | Schwarzschild and de Sitter solution from the argument by Lenz and Sommerfiled[END_REF], the Schwarzschild metric is obtained from the study of a radially accelerated free falling frame by insinuating the concepts of time dilation, length contraction, equivalence principle and Newtonian gravity in the derivation. These results have led to a false belief that it is possible to derive the Schwarzschild metric without any reference to the field equations of general relativity.

The result that Schwarzschild metric can be obtained by combining special relativity, equivalence principle and Newtonian gravity is a mere coincidence. As demonstrated by Gruber et al. [START_REF] Gruber | The impossibility of a simple derivation of the Schwarzschild metric[END_REF], two gravitational effects are necessary to specify the two a priori diagonal components g tt (r) and g rr (r). The first piece of gravitational information they considered is the free falling radial inward velocity v(r) of a particle measured by an observer stationary at a coordinate r. With the knowledge of this velocity, one can obtain the total mass-energy of a free falling particle measured by the same stationary observer. The diagonal component g tt (r) can then be directly inferred, for example, from a gedanken experiment with photons (Appendix in ref. [START_REF] Gruber | The impossibility of a simple derivation of the Schwarzschild metric[END_REF]).

To obtain the diagonal radial component g rr (r), Gruber et al. chose to study the gravitational force law, f (r) = -d 2 r/dτ 2 , where τ is the proper time measured by the free falling observer. This is 'a plausible analogy of Newtonian radial acceleration that is at the same time relativistically palatable'. With both v(r) and f (r) known, g rr (r) can be inferred. For example, in the Newtonian gravitational theory, v(r) = -(2GM/r) 1/2 and f (r) = GM/r 2 for a gravitating body of mass M . The diagonal metric components obtained are g tt = 1 -2GM/rc 2 and g rr = [1 -2GM/rc 2 ] -1 , which happen to be the exact solutions we are looking for. However, when we extend our considerations to relativistic gravity, we expect v(r) and f (r) will have to be corrected to capture the relativistic gravitational effects. This can be done by writing v(r) = -(2GM/r) 1/2 U (GM/rc 2 ) and f (r) = (GM/r 2 )W (GM/rc 2 ), where U (GM/rc 2 ) and W (GM/rc 2 ) are functions with expansions of the dimensionless quantity GM/rc 2 . (Note that U = W = 1 in Newtonian gravity.) The relativistic corrections are supposed to be captured in the dimensionless functions U and W . Therefore, in order to determine g tt (r) and g rr (r), information from experiments or theory other than the Newtonian gravity must be specified. This is where the Einstein's field equations are needed.

The assumption that all of the higher power of GM/rc 2 in functions U and W are zero is unjustified without the Einstein's field equations, albeit it may be true by accident that the particular metric components are already given exactly in the non-relativistic limit. Using only special relativity, equivalence principle and Newtonian gravity, it is not sufficient to determine the components of the Schwarzschild metric when relativistic gravitational effects are significant. These arguments, thus, falsify the claims proposed in refs. [START_REF] Lenz | Electrodynamics[END_REF][START_REF] Schiff | On experimental tests of the general theory of relativity[END_REF][START_REF] Harwit | Astrophysical Concepts[END_REF][START_REF] Rowlands | A simple approach to the experimental consequences of general relativity[END_REF][START_REF] Czerniawski | The possibility of a simple derivation of the Schwarzschild metric[END_REF][START_REF] Cuzinatto | Schwarzschild and de Sitter solution from the argument by Lenz and Sommerfiled[END_REF] that the Schwarzschild metric can be obtained without the explicit use of general relativity.

The aforementioned inverse proportionality of the diagonal coefficients is a source of continuing confusions. Based on various reasonings, Schild [START_REF] Schild | Equivalence Principle and Red-Shift Measurements[END_REF], Rindler [START_REF] Rindler | Counterexample to the Lenz-Schiff Argument[END_REF], Sacks and Ball [START_REF] Sacks | Simple derivations of the Schwarzschild metric[END_REF], Kassner [START_REF] Kassner | Classroom reconstruction of the Schwarzschild metric[END_REF] have arrived at the same conclusion that there is no simple derivation of the Schwarzschild metric. Although it is unreasonable to believe that the Schwarzschild metric can be derived from time dilation and length contraction without general relativity, the erroneous attributions of these features do come up with an answer that looks like the correct one. If so, can there be other constructive ways to use these concepts in the gravitational theory? In this paper, we show that the time dilation and length contraction for the 'fictitious motions' (either a uniform fictitious radial velocity or fictitious oscillations) of a thin shell can be applied to mimic the gravitational properties of a massive thin shell.

In quantum theory, we learned that a particle is an oscillator. However, its amplitude has only a probabilistic interpretation based on Born's postulate [START_REF] Born | On the Quantum Theory of the Electromagnetic Field[END_REF]. In refs. [START_REF] Yau | Emerged quantum field of a deterministic system with vibrations in space and time[END_REF][START_REF] Yau | Probabilistic nature of a field with time as a dynamical variable[END_REF][START_REF] Yau | Temporal vibrations in a quantized field[END_REF], we demonstrate a possibility that, apart from the classical description of mass [START_REF] Jammer | Concepts of Mass in Contemporary Physics and Philosophy[END_REF][START_REF] Okun | Energy and Mass in Relativity Theory[END_REF], a particle can have an intrinsic oscillation in proper time. By allowing matter to vibrate in the time direction, we can reconcile the quantum properties of a matter field. The scalar field describing the vibrations of matter in time satisfies the Klein-Gordon equation and Schrödinger equation. The energy in this system is quantized under the constraint that the energy of mass is on shell. Apart from the proper time oscillation, we can identify another intrinsic property for a particle. The fictitious radial oscillation introduced in this paper has effects that can curve spacetime. A thin shell with fictitious radial oscillations can be contracted to infinitesimal radius that resembles a point mass. In addition, the spacetime around this thin shell with infinitesimal radius is the Schwarzschild field. The fictitious radial oscillation is another intrinsic property that a particle can hypothetically possess.

This paper is organized as follows. Section 2 outlines the properties of a thin shell with a 'uniform fictitious radial velocity'. Time dilation and length contraction derived from this fictitious velocity can be used to define the spacetime metric on the surface of a thin shell. Section 3 shows that a thin shell with 'fictitious radial oscillations" can also produce the same effects obtained in Section 2 based on a time translational symmetry. Section 4 demonstrates that the external spacetime outside the thin shell with fictitious motions is static and satisfies the Schwarzschild solution for the gravitational field of a spherically symmetric mass. Section 5 is reserved for discussions. In the following analysis, we will adopt the units c = G = 1.

Thin Shell with a Uniform Fictitious Radial Velocity

The way Eq. ( 1) is written has created a deceptive impression that the Schwarzschild metric can be derived from time dilation and length contraction. As it appears, an observer O stationary at a particular radial coordinate r is subject to a velocity v(r). However, this velocity is not physical motion of the observer in spacetime. In fact, observer O is considered stationary in the spatial coordinates. This "fictitious velocity" is what is responsible for the apparent time dilation and length contraction, i.e. (dt

) 2 = [1 -v(r) 2 ]dt 2 and (dr ) 2 = [1 -v(r) 2 ] -1 dr 2 .
As discussed earlier, it is unreasonable to assume that we can apply these concepts at every point in spacetime to obtain the Schwarzschild metric. Here, we will limit their applications only on the surface of a timelike hypersurface. Our goal is not to derive the Schwarzschild metric but to show that the gravitational properties derived from a spherical thin shell with fictitious radial motions is compatible with those for a spherical thin shell with mass M . Let us consider a coordinate system (t, r, θ, φ). The coordinate time t is measured by the clock of a stationary observer O located at spatial infinity. The radial coordinate r is defined as the circumference, divided by 2π, of a sphere centered around the spherical thin shell to be investigated. The angular coordinates θ and φ are the usual polar spherical angular coordinates. This coordinate system is the same adopted for the conventional Schwarzschild field.

We will assume an infinitesimally thin spherical shell Σ with radius Ȓ is centered at the origin of this coordinate system. A stationary observer Ȏ on this thin shell will be subject to a uniform fictitious radial velocity vfm as if it is constantly moving relative to the observer O at spatial infinity. However, the thin shell itself has no physical movement in regular spacetime. The uniform fictitious radial velocity vfm has effects on the time and distance measured at r = Ȓ while observer Ȏ remains stationary on the thin shell. Outside this thin shell, the spacetime is a vacuum with no fictitious radial motion. The hypothetical effects of the fictitious velocity on time and distance measurements are used to define the spacetime metric on the surface of the timelike thin shell.

In a Minkowski spacetime, the clock of a stationary observer at any location shall be synchronized with the clock of observer O at spatial infinity. However, this is not the case for observer Ȏ stationary on the thin shell. For the purpose of our discussions, it will be easier if we adopt the use of a fictitious frame Ō. In this fictitious frame, it is the clock of the fictitious observer Ō that synchronizes with the clock of O. In addition, the two observers measure the same length for the same object. We shall consider the effects of the fictitious velocity at r = Ȓ as if Ȏ is moving in the fictitious frame of Ō. An observer Ȏ on the thin shell will have a uniform fictitious velocity vfm moving relative to the fictitious observer Ō. Therefore, Ȏ is under the constant effects of a uniform fictitious velocity while remaining at rest relative to O at spatial infinity.

Let us consider two events in frame Ȏ. We will assume the fictitious velocity is | vfm | < 1. The infinitesimal d t and dȓ are the differences in the time and radial coordinates between the two events. They can be related to the coordinate increments dt and dr for the same two events observed by O,

dt dr = Υ t t Υ t ȓ Υ r t Υ r ȓ d t dȓ . (2)
In the local frames of O and Ȏ, the respective basis vectors in the time and radial directions are orthogonal, i.e. e t • e r = 0 and e t • e ȓ = 0. On the other hand, Ȏ is stationary relative to O. The time and radial basis vectors in frame O are parallel to their counterparts in frame Ȏ, i.e. e t e t , and e ȓ e r . Under these conditions, the transformation matrix Υ is diagonal,

Υ t ȓ = Υ r t = 0. (3)
When dȓ = 0, d t is a proper time measured by the clock carried by Ȏ. This timelike interval can be Lorentz transformed to the fictitious frame of Ō,

d t = γd t, (4)
d r = γ vfm d t, (5)
where γ = [1 -( vfm ) 2 ] -1/2 . In the fictitious frame, Ȏ travels a distance d r over a time d t. On the other hand, the clocks of O and Ō are synchronized. O shall measures the same time as Ō,

dt = d t = γd t. (6)
However, O is physically stationary relative to Ȏ, i.e.

dr = 0. ( 7
)
The underlined quantity in Eq. ( 5) is a fictitious infinitesimal displacement that appears only in the fictitious frame of Ō. Under the effect of this fictitious velocity, time measured by the clock of O is dilated but there is no physical movement between O and Ȏ. From Eq. ( 6),

Υ t t = γ = [1 -( vfm ) 2 ] -1/2 . ( 8
)
Next, we will consider a measuring rod with length dȓ carried by Ȏ. This spacelike interval can be expressed as two events measured at the endpoints of the rod simultaneously, d t = 0. Again, we can Lorentz transform these two events to the fictitious frame of Ō,

d t = γ vfm dȓ, (9)
d r = γdȓ.

From the viewpoint of Ō, the rod carried by Ȏ is moving at a velocity vfm . To obtain the moving length d l of the rod, we shall subtract d r by the distance traveled by the rod during d t,

d l = d r -vfm d t = γ -1 dȓ. ( 11
)
Since the rod is of the same length as measured by O and Ō,

dr = d l = γ -1 dȓ. ( 12
)
On the other hand, the rod carried by Ȏ is stationary relative to O. The underlined quantities in Eqs. ( 9) and ( 11) are fictitious temporal and spatial infinitesimal displacements that only appear in the fictitious frame of Ō. Their effects shorten the rod observed in frame O but there is no physical movement between O and Ȏ. The spacelike interval dr representing the length of the rod in frame O is measured simultaneously at the endpoints,

dt = 0. (13)
From Eq. ( 12),

Υ r ȓ = γ -1 = [1 -( vfm ) 2 ] 1/2 . ( 14
)
Therefore, Eq. ( 2) becomes,

dt dr = [1 -( vfm ) 2 ] -1/2 0 0 [1 -( vfm ) 2 ] 1/2 d t dȓ , (15)
which is based on the results from Eqs. (3), ( 8) and ( 14).

Thin Shell with Fictitious Oscillations

In this section, we will show that the same transformation matrix Υ from Eq. ( 15) can be obtained by considering a thin shell that has fictitious oscillations in the radial direction. Let us again consider the infinitesimally thin spherical shell Σ with radius Ȓ. We will introduce fictitious radial oscillations on the surface of this thin shell, rf ( t) = -¯ cos(ω 0 t), ( 16)

vf ( t) = ∂ rf ( t) ∂ t = ¯ ω 0 sin(ω 0 t), (17)
where ¯ and ω 0 are the amplitude and angular frequency of the fictitious oscillations respectively. As we have discussed in the last section, we will adopt the use of a fictitious frame Ō. In this fictitious frame, it is the clock of a fictitious observer Ō oscillating about r = Ȓ that synchronizes with the clock of observer O at spatial infinity, i.e. t = t. In addition, the two observers measure the same length for the same object, i.e. l = l. Although an observer Ȏ on the thin shell has no physical motion relative to observer O at spatial infinity, Ȏ is subject to a fictitious oscillation. At a particular time, Ȏ is displaced a distance rf with an instantaneous velocity vf relative to Ō in the fictitious frame. The fictitious oscillation does not carry an observer through regular spacetime. There is no physical motion of matter. Instead, the fictitious oscillation is used to define the geometry of spacetime at r = Ȓ. Furthermore, the system is spherically symmetric with fictitious oscillations in the radial direction only. The region outside the thin shell is a vacuum which is source free. There is no fictitious vibration in the vacuum spacetime.

From Eqs. ( 16) and ( 17), the fictitious displacement and instantaneous velocity at t = tm = π/(2ω 0 ) are, rf ( tm ) = 0, [START_REF] Jammer | Concepts of Mass in Contemporary Physics and Philosophy[END_REF] and

vf ( tm ) = vfm = ¯ ω 0 , (19)
where we will assume vfm = ¯ ω 0 < 1 in this section. Ȏ is traveling with a velocity vfm in the fictitious frame with no displacement relative to Ō. (Note that we equate the peak fictitious velocity vf ( tm ) with the uniform fictitious velocity vfm developed in the previous section to show later that both the use of fictitious oscillations and the uniform fictitious velocity can produce the same gravitational effects.) As we shall recall, the properties at r = Ȓ with fictitious velocity vfm are already discussed in Section 2. However, in the fictitious oscillating system, apart from the instantaneous velocity vf , Ȏ also has a displacement rf relative to the fictitious observer Ō. As a simple harmonic oscillating system, we expect both the fictitious displacement and its instantaneous velocity can have effects on Ȏ.

Let us rewrite the transformation matrix Υ from Eq. ( 15) in terms of a constant Ȋ for the thin shell with fictitious radial oscillations, i.e.

dt dr = (1 -Ȋ) -1/2 0 0 (1 -Ȋ) 1/2 d t dȓ , (20)
where

Ȋ = ω 2 0 [ rf ( t)] 2 + [ vf ( t)] 2 = v2 f m = ¯ 2 ω 2 0 . ( 21
)
At t = tm = π/(2ω 0 ), Ȋ = v2 f m . The oscillation has an instantaneous velocity vfm with no displacement relative to the fictitious observer Ō as discussed earlier. On the other hand, the constant fictitious velocity from Section 2 is replaced by a fictitious oscillation in Eqs. [START_REF] Wald | General Relativity[END_REF] and [START_REF] Birkhoff | Relativity and Modern Physics[END_REF]. The constant Ȋ is the summation of two parts analogous to the "potential" and "kinetic" components of a classical oscillating system. At a particular instant, the fictitious displacement rf ( t) and the fictitious instantaneous velocity vf ( t) satisfy Eq. ( 21) which is a typical solution for a simple harmonic oscillating system. In addition, Υ is a constant matrix. The effects of the fictitious oscillation on Ȏ at any instant is equivalent to those produced by the fictitious velocity vfm at t = π/(2ω 0 ).

The same transformation matrix Υ from Eq. ( 15) can be obtained by replacing the constant fictitious radial velocity with fictitious oscillation in the radial direction.

As we shall recall, the total energy of a simple harmonic oscillating system is typically conserved. This is what we expect for the system with fictitious oscillations. Based on the Noether's theorem, the system we are considering shall have a time translational symmetry. This fact will be confirmed below. As a result, the combined effects from the fictitious displacement rf and fictitious velocity vf on observer Ȏ shall be a constant over time. Therefore, there is no surprise that Υ is a constant matrix for the thin shell with fictitious radial oscillations.

The fictitious oscillations in the system are entirely radial. It is spherically symmetric and there is no rotational motion. Thus, the line element at r = Ȓ can be written as [START_REF] Wald | General Relativity[END_REF],

ds 2 = g tt ( Ȓ)dt 2 + 2g tr ( Ȓ)dtdr + g rr ( Ȓ)dr 2 -Ȓ2 dΩ 2 , ( 22
)
where Ω is the metric induced on each 2-sphere using the radial coordinates of our reference system. The temporal (radial) coordinate in frame O, and its counterpart in frame Ȏ, are of different scale. From Eq. ( 20), we can relate the basis vectors in frames O and Ȏ,

e t = e t (1 -Ȋ) 1/2 , (23)
e ȓ = e r (1 -Ȋ) -1/2 . (24)
As a result, the metrics at O and Ȏ are different. From Eqs. ( 23) and [START_REF] Hawking | The singularities of gravitational collapse and cosmology[END_REF],

g tt ( Ȓ) = e t • e t = (1 -Ȋ) e t • e t = 1 -Ȋ, (25)
g rr ( Ȓ) = e ȓ • e ȓ = (1 -Ȋ) -1 e r • e r = -(1 -Ȋ) -1 , (26)
g tr ( Ȓ) = g rt ( Ȓ) = e t • e ȓ = e t • e r = 0, (27)
where e t • e t = 1, e r • e r = -1, and e t • e r = 0. Therefore, the line element at r = Ȓ is,

ds 2 = [1 -Ȋ]dt 2 -[1 -Ȋ] -1 dr 2 -Ȓ2 dΩ 2 . (28)
Apart from the time translational symmetry, the spacetime at r = Ȓ is also invariant under time reflection symmetry (t → -t).

Schwarzschild Spacetime

From Eq. ( 21), both the uniform fictitious radial velocity vfm and the fictitious oscillation with amplitude ¯ can give rise to the same line element in Eq. (28). Using these fictitious radial motions (either a uniform fictitious radial velocity or fictitious oscillations) to define the geometry of spacetime at r = Ȓ, the metric derived on the surface of a thin shell is different from the assumed flat spacetime at spatial infinity. The geometry of spacetime at these two distant locations are different. If the spacetime manifold outside the thin shell is smooth and continuous, its structures cannot be flat. The fictitious motions have effects that can curve spacetime.

Eq. (28) is the line element of the Schwarzschild metric on the surface of a thin shell with total mass M if we set

Ȋ = 2M Ȓ , (29)
or

M = Ȓ¯ 2 ω 2 0 2 = Ȓv 2 f m 2 . ( 30
)
From general relativity, the vacuum space-time υ + outside this spherical thin shell Σ (a time-like hypersurface) is the Schwarzschild spacetime, i.e.

ds 2 = [1 -Ȓ¯ 2 ω 2 0 r ]dt 2 -[1 -Ȓ¯ 2 ω 2 0 r ] -1 dr 2 -r 2 dΩ 2 , (31)
or

ds 2 = [1 -Ȓv 2 f m r ]dt 2 -[1 -Ȓv 2 f m r ] -1 dr 2 -r 2 dΩ 2 . ( 32
)
The spacetime around the thin shell with fictitious motions is static with time translational and time reflection symmetries. The Birkhoff's theorem [START_REF] Birkhoff | Relativity and Modern Physics[END_REF][START_REF] Schmidt | The tetralogy of Birkhoff theorems[END_REF] states that the gravitational field of any spherically symmetric vacuum region is necessarily static, and its metric is that of the Schwarzschild spacetime. This applies to the external field of any nonrotating, spherical, uniform thin shell whether the shell is static, fluctuating or collapsing. Applying the same principle, the time-like hypersurface Σ can be expanded (or contracted) by 'carrying' the fictitious oscillations along geodesics orthogonal to the original surface to a new sphere Σ . As long as mass M given in Eq. ( 30) is remaining constant during this transformation, the metric and curvature of the external field will not be affected. Under this condition, the amplitude of the radial oscillation is,

¯ = 2M Ȓω 2 0 , (33)
or the uniform fictitious radial velocity is,

vfm = 2M Ȓ . (34)
The metric from Eqs. ( 31) and (32) will encounter a coordinate singularity when the shell is contracted to a radius Ȓ = 2M (the event horizon). Although the fictitious instantaneous velocity on the shell at event horizon can reach the speed of light (i.e. vfm = 1 from Eqs. ( 19), ( 33) and (34) when Ȓ = 2M ), it is not physical motion of matter. As we shall recall, the fictitious motions have effects on the time and distance measurements of a stationary observer. The spacetime metric at r = Ȓ can be inferred from these fictitious motions. However, there is no physical movement by the stationary observer or the thin shell. The fictitious motions can curve spacetime but will not produce superluminal transfer of energy even for a shell that is inside the event horizon with vfm > 1.

The amplitude ¯ from Eq. (33), the uniform fictitious velocity vfm from Eq. (34), and the related spacetime curvature tensors derived from the metric (e.g. the coordinate independent Kretschmann invariant [START_REF] Cherubini | Second order scalar invariants of the Riemann tensor: applications to black hole spacetimes[END_REF], R αβγδ R αβγδ = 48M 2 /r 6 = 12 Ȓ2 ¯ 4 ω 4 0 /r 6 ), are well defined as the shell is contracted until it reaches a radius Ȓ → 0 where it meets a true singularity [START_REF] Hawking | The singularities of gravitational collapse and cosmology[END_REF][START_REF] Hawking | The Large-Scale Structure of Space-Time[END_REF]. At this point, the shell is infinitely small but has infinitely large amplitude of oscillations, ¯ → ∞, or infinitely large fictitious radial velocity, vfm → ∞. As predicted by Birkhoff's theorem, the metric around this infinitely small shell is the Schwarzschild spacetime. An infinitesimally small thin shell with fictitious motions can mimic the gravitational properties of a point mass in relativity.

Before we conclude this section, let us address a question about the fictitious oscillations. From Eq. (34), the uniform fictitious radial velocity vfm can be established directly from the mass M . Therefore, there is no ambiguity about what value vfm shall be used when applying to a thin shell with mass M . However, this is not so trivial for the amplitude of fictitious oscillations ¯ . In order to determine ¯ , we also need to specify the angular frequency ω 0 in Eq. ( 33). This is ambiguous when we apply the fictitious oscillations for a macroscopic mass since there is no known 'distinguished' angular frequency that we can associate with a macroscopic object at rest. The angular frequency can therefore be assigned arbitrarily. On the contrary, there is one reasonable choice when the application is for a quantum particle. As de Broglie has conjectured in his 1924 thesis [START_REF] De Broglie | [END_REF], a particle possesses an internal clock. This hypothesis has been recently tested, and the experimental data obtained are found to be compatible with the theory [START_REF] Catillon | A search for the de Broglie particle internal clock by means of electron channeling[END_REF]. Considering the particle as a point mass, the angular frequency ω 0 specified in our formulation can be taken as the frequency of the de Broglie's internal clock. This frequency is unique for the particle. However, it is unreasonable to extend this idea of an internal clock for a macroscopic object. Quantum effects are supposed to be negligible in the classical energy level and there is no analogy of an internal clock for a macroscopic object. Therefore, to avoid ambiguity, we will limit our application of the fictitious oscillations for quantum systems only.

Conclusions and Discussions

The misconception that time dilation and length contraction can be applied to derive the Schwarzschild metric without general relativity is a source of continuing confusions. Repeated attempts have been made despite this idea has been refuted many times by others. Yet the simple form of this concept makes its application very appealing. In this paper, based on a better understanding of what limits its applications, we borrow the idea and apply it to derive the metric on the surface of a thin shell. One major difference from the previous attempts is that the outside spacetime is maintained as vacuum without fictitious motions in our study. Our goal is not to derive the Schwarzschild metric without general relativity. Instead, this application helps to paint a simple picture on how matter can be connected to spacetime. A massive thin shell exerts fictitious motions on its surface. This alters the spacetime metric on the surface of the thin shell and curves the surrounding external spacetime. In turn, the curved spacetime tells other matters how to react in the presence of the thin shell. The previously unsuccessful idea can have another application in the gravitational theory.

The fictitious radial oscillation is different from the proper time oscillation of a particle studied in refs. [START_REF] Yau | Emerged quantum field of a deterministic system with vibrations in space and time[END_REF][START_REF] Yau | Probabilistic nature of a field with time as a dynamical variable[END_REF][START_REF] Yau | Temporal vibrations in a quantized field[END_REF]. In these referenced papers, we show that a particle can have an intrinsic oscillation in proper time. As a part of spacetime, this oscillation in time shall have effects on its surrounding spacetime. Here, we demonstrate another intrinsic property possible for a particle. The fictitious radial oscillations with de Broglie's frequency on a thin shell with infinitesimal radius can give rise to the Schwarzschild spacetime. Unlike the proper time oscillation of a particle, the fictitious radial oscillations are not motions of matter in the time direction (nor in the spatial direction). Instead, their effects can curve spacetime, These fictitious radial oscillations can be what we need to connect the proper time oscillation of a particle with the external spacetime.

The proper time oscillator is the source of the particle's mass-energy which can be the driving force for the fictitious radial oscillations. It is not implausible that a particle can have additional intrinsic properties that are linked more directly with spacetime.


Barrer Laurence

Gimenez Guy

Laurence Barrer
email: lbarrer@free.fr

Guy Gimenez

First time description of dismantling phenomenon

Keywords: Countertransference, Autistic disorder, Dismantling, Metapsychology, Defence mechanism

Dismantling is a complex psychic phenomenon, which is not easy to define, and little interest has been shown in the subject. The authors of this paper want to demonstrate that dismantling is the main defence mechanism in autism, bringing about de-consensus of senses. The effects perceived in a child with autistic disorder are passivity and lack of thought. The authors' purpose here is to define the dismantled state and reveal its underlying process. This paper will therefore describe for the first time in literature, the dismantling phenomenon and will submit a metapsychological approach of this defence mechanism.

The psychic dismantling phenomenon, which we name as dismantled state, has not been fully described in scientific literature. [START_REF] Meltzer | Sexual states in mind[END_REF] first used the term to describe a process in autism characterised by an immediate and transitory suspension of mental activity to explain and develop his concept, he first suggested a possible link between, what he termed as « the dismantled object » and two external real objects: the transitional object and the fetish object. He made a connection between the dismantled object and the sexual object used in perversions (the fetish). However, Meltzer abandons this work path and then in 1975 compares dismantling to obsessional mechanisms. He adds that the compulsive repetition would be a dynamic element of the dismantling process, a way of controlling objects and bringing them together (1975, p. 32-34). Their conjunction would occur on the basis of their « essential function » (1975, p. 270) which is to dismantle the experience into "a condition of simpleness beneath the level of 'common sense' » and "to find aimless mechanical interlinkage between its parts». He associated this to the bizarre objects of [START_REF] Bion | Differenciation of the psychotic from the non-psychotic Personalities[END_REF] which are psychotic objects fragmented into minute parts after splitting. These particles created are ejected through projection out of the Ego and thus become raw and unprocessed. Nevertheless, this conceptualization was incomplete. Among existing research on autism, we will focus here on the work referring to psychoanalytic paradigm.

The dismantling concept

In 1975, a theoretical overhaul leads Meltzer to develop ideas such as de-consensus of senses, absence of pain as an autistic process and the staggering reaction of the child with autistic disorder faced with the beauty of an aesthetic object. He also draws to light the love the child with autistic disorder has for the preservation of the maternal shelter (1986, p. 237). When he uses his three comparisons, he mentions the idea of the existence of a general organizer (the cement of the wall for the first one (1975, p. 30), the strings of the toy dog actioned by someone for the second one (1975, p. 31) and the commanding captain for the third (1975, p. 31)) but he does not develop this idea further and does not refer to it throughout his later work. Meltzer specifies that a child with autism under dismantling process is without thought and that « time spent in autism is lost for maturation » (1975, p. 30). In 1986, Meltzer referred to Bion's work (1974) on thinking activity by linking the dismantling process to the concept of truth, which would be at the origin of the psychic growth and development. He defines the dismantling process as an activity of destruction of thoughts leading to falsity. In summary, dismantling is a psychic movement which is a process of sensorial de-consensus where senses roam « to the most attractive object of the moment» (Meltzer, 1975, p. 31). He later describes dismantling as a state of great passivity causing the autistic child to suspend his attention -and considers it a passive process. However, he builds his concept from literary comparisons without exemplifying with clinical material taken from children with autistic disorder. Today, Meltzer's literary comparisons are systematically reused by authors studying autism [START_REF] Houzel | L'enfant autiste et ses espaces[END_REF][START_REF] Ribas | Chroniques de l'intrication et de la désintrication pulsionnelle[END_REF][START_REF] Delion | Autisme: état des lieux et horizons[END_REF][START_REF] Golse | De l'empathie et de l'intersubjectivité primaires, à l'empathie et à l'intersubjectivité secondaires: le travail de la polysensorialité[END_REF]Hochman, 2009) and we find few clinical descriptions of the dismantling phenomenon (Hoxter, 1975;[START_REF] Lheureux-Davidsé | Autisme et addictions[END_REF], although Meltzer (1986, p. 144) has opened a field of research and instigated the scientific community to explore further. [START_REF] Meltzer | Studies for an extended metapsychology. Clinical applications of Bion[END_REF] imagines the dismantling process as a mental capacity, which would shield off pain and psychic conflict and to allow defence against reality but nowhere did he refer to it as a defence mechanism. For this author, the aetiology of dismantling is not in the infantmother's inter-subjectivity. On the contrary, he supports the idea that the child's personality, his extreme sensitivity, his high intelligence and his strong emotional potential when meeting other people are at the origin of the use of the dismantling process. He introduces the conception of Ego dismantling as a deconstruction, a sudden dislocation of the senses, which were previously linked by a consensual real-life experience.

To further explain the dismantling phenomenon, [START_REF] Ciccone | Naissance à la vie psychique[END_REF], Meltzer's successors, refer to the action of the death drive in autism: it's action would consist of the creation of a never-ending psychical inward withdrawal similar to what [START_REF] Houzel | Le monde tourbillonnaire de l'autisme[END_REF] described as a whirling spiral downward movement. They furthermore described dismantling as a defence mechanism. Dismantling would be a defence mechanism against primitive anxiety related to the death drive. They named it defence mechanism as did [START_REF] Soulé | Nouveau traité de psychiatrie de l'enfant et de l'adolescent[END_REF] which [START_REF] Meltzer | Sexual states in mind[END_REF][START_REF] Meltzer | Explorations in autism[END_REF][START_REF] Meltzer | Studies for an extended metapsychology. Clinical applications of Bion[END_REF] did not. On the other hand, other authors such as [START_REF] Haag | Comment les psychanalystes peuvent aider les enfans avec autisme et leurs familles[END_REF], assumed that dismantling is due « to overwhelming emotion when hearing a voice and/or a penetrating look which seem to cut off and dissociate the development of the sensory information from their perceptive organization, (which is permitted by attentional function) and to seriously damage the cognitive development ». To contribute to the understanding of this phenomenon, we lead research on children with autistic disorder.

Description of dismantling phenomenon

Our research was based upon data collected over two years of clinical and therapeutic sessions. 127 videos were taken and each one was analysed. In order that our clinical material followed a logical sequence with our research hypotheses, we needed to lead our investigations in a scientific dimension. To do so, we had to define general standards of proof to test our hypotheses. To identify these standards of proof, we used the IPA qualitative method of clinical observation (Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, Smith et Osborn, 2003). In the videos, our patients adopted similar attitudes when dismantling and we tried to list in details the attitudes, signs and movements that occurred simultaneously. We assembled the clinical data and distinguished 5 standards of proof:

1) the stare at a unique steady point called « attraction point » recognisable by the discontinuity of its colours, light and texture; 2) the muscle tone, either low or high according to the therapeutic progress; 3) the attention focused on precise dots which have no interconnection; 4) temporarily suspended movements except for a repetitive auto-sensual movement of a visible part of the body (hand, arm…) or a non-visible part (larynx, sphincter, respiratory system…); 5) the sudden and immediate capacity to enter or extract oneself of this dismantled state.

When a dismantled state occurs, the child with autistic disorder starts staring. The palpebral reflex is slowed or stopped. This look gives the impression that the child with autistic disorder is elsewhere, that he is no longer seeing. It is often referred to as a « blank stare » in literature. We pointed out that the stare is focused on an « attraction point » characterised by the discontinuity of colours (blue object on red surface…) of light (a ray of light in a dark room, the incandescent wire filament of a bulb), of contrast (a crumb on a dark floor, sequins on the black dress…), of texture (something rough on a smooth or soft surface). We first made the assumption that a hypotonic posture would be found during the dismantling phenomenon but we unexpectedly observed a systematic reversal of the muscle tone. During our research [START_REF] Barrer | Le mécanisme de démantèlement dans l'autisme: transformation et cocréation du lien intersubjectif en psychothérapie de l'enfant[END_REF], the general muscle tone of the child with autistic disorder was changed to hypotonic when hypertonic in everyday life and to hypertonic when hypotonic. However, we noticed that the muscle tone changed to hypertonic only after a certain period of therapy. At the beginning of our research, the children usually showed hypotonic posture during the dismantling phenomenon. The attention of the child with autistic disorder is not reduced or lacking but in fact has no junctional aim. Attention seems focused on non-connected precise points of the environment. This scattered attention gives the impression that the subject has left his immediate environment, that he is elsewhere, disconnected from reality, atonic, lifeless.

When a dismantled state occurs, all activity is suspended whether the muscle tone is hypo-or hypertonic. We have however discovered that a part of the child's body, like a finger, a hand or a leg, remains in action or is activated. That movement is rhythmical and autosensual although the body is atonic; it can be visible (hand, foot…) or invisible (sounds from the larynx, self satisfactory feelings of vibrating frictions). The reason for this movement seems to be to maintain an anchorage in reality. Atony is low muscle tone with non-reactive deeptendon reflexes. On the contrary, hypertonicity is the abnormal raising of muscle tone. When extracted from the hypertonic dismantling state, the autistic child starts to concentrate, collects himself a short moment around the discovery of others (touching and looking at him). Hypertonicity could be at the origin of the gradual opening up.

The dismantled state appears in seconds (according to the measures taken on the video films). The transition between the moment where the child is active (playing, walking, watching...) and the moment where he is dismantled is not gradual but sudden.

In our research, we tried to demonstrate that each sense is focalised on precise sensorial points and to show that these are not linked, as [START_REF] Meltzer | Explorations in autism[END_REF] reported. The sensorial unlinking gives the observer the impression that the child is closed off from his environment however the fact that his attention is scattered between each of his senses shows he is present, but only on these sensorial points. In this state, the autistic child stops thinking and is not totally present. This unlinked presence leads to passivity; he cannot filter what is heard, smelt, tasted and touched as if he had regressed to an archaic mode where senses have not yet been linked, thanks to the gathering experience brought by the mothering object.

Conception of dismantling as defence mechanism

The following definition, inspired by S. Freud and A. Freud has provided a basis for us: defence mechanisms are « different types of processes through which defence may be given specific expression. Which of these mechanisms predominate in a given case depends upon the type of illness under consideration, upon the developmental stage reached, upon the extent to which the defensive conflict has been worked out, and so on. It is generally agreed that the ego puts defence mechanism to use, but the theoretical question whether their mobilization always presupposes the existence of an organized ego capable of sustaining them is an open one » (Laplanche and Pontalis, 1967). The understanding of defence mechanisms is essential to help patients using other adaptive strategies than the ones, which is cutting themselves off from the others and from themselves. The description of dismantling as a defence mechanism allows the practitioner to identify it more easily during sessions and therefore treated it more efficiently. Our approach suggests that patient's symptoms are the result of ego's attempt to deal with a painful psychic conflict, it's like he could deal at that time: as if he could do so in that specific moment. Therapy's purpose would be then helpful to the Subject who find in therapeutic link, other resources to help them deal with the conflict, in a more adaptive way which would also reduce psychic suffering. The psychic process consists of devitalizing the link to the other. In a previous research, [START_REF] Barrer | Le mécanisme de démantèlement dans l'autisme: transformation et cocréation du lien intersubjectif en psychothérapie de l'enfant[END_REF] it was pointed out that the dismantling process attacks a part of the perceptive reality, which seems to be perceived as an "attracting object", i.e. an attracting object towards a consensual experience [START_REF] Bick | The experience of the skin in early object-relations[END_REF]. But instead of evacuating that part of reality bearing a conflict, it is the experience itself that is transformed by the child with autistic disorder into a sensorial flow. This assigns the attracting object to be a mere thing and is no longer a possible subject of a relationship. Affect is repelled and, as [START_REF] Barthélémy | La gestion des affects dans la relation thérapeutique chez le patient schizophrène[END_REF] wrote, « the reification of the affect » places the other in « a dimension of concretism» or "an agglomerate of sensorial perceptions". Dismantling can be considered as an active defence mechanism whose task is to unlink sensations [START_REF] Bion | Attaque des liens[END_REF] arising from the various senses, leaving the consensual function [START_REF] Anzieu | Le moi peau[END_REF] inefficient. The child then lives a physical experience through several sensorial canals. The I concentrate each sensory canal and kinesthetic perception on one experience, which is focused on a specific sensorial point, different for each sensory canal. On that specific sensorial point this focus separate (isolation defence) the I from the perceptions that come from the other sensory canals. These experiences build what we term as a dismantled Ego where pictogramic (Aulagnier, 1985) traces of each sensation exist but separate (unlinked, delinked) from any other similar ones.

Another repercussion of the dismantling process is the annihilation of thoughts by a triple caesura of the links [START_REF] Barrer | Le mécanisme de démantèlement dans l'autisme: transformation et cocréation du lien intersubjectif en psychothérapie de l'enfant[END_REF] between: the primal pictogramic traces issued from one and the same experience; these traces and their potential representations (which could at a certain point contain the thought and give a meaning to it); between these traces and the investment directed towards them. Death drive seems to be, for us, what lies at the source of the dismantling process. Its expression is revealed intrapsychically, by the destruction of the psychic bonds, dislocating the child's senses, and physically with hypotony as the expression of the return to non-organic matter. Dismantling, as a psychic and active process, is at the origin of the incapacity to initiate a relationship. We have noticed that a child with autistic disorder massively dismantles when he is in a location which could possibly cause him to meet an Other [START_REF] Barrer | Le mécanisme de démantèlement dans l'autisme: transformation et cocréation du lien intersubjectif en psychothérapie de l'enfant[END_REF].

Metapsychological model

We have started to develop a metapsychological model of the dismantling process in autistic disorder. [START_REF] Meltzer | Explorations in autism[END_REF] had outlined the features of this model.

From a dynamic point of view, the dismantling process is an active process used as a defence mechanism. During the dismantling process, the conflict between death and life drives appears through the swing from passive posture during dismantling to re-activation. The child swings from de-consensuality to re-consensuality. This mechanism offers the possibility to fight against the awareness of the other's presence, the Other being a potential attracting object permitting the formation of a bond. During the dismantled state, the various senses are delinked one from another. During dismantling phenomenon, the function of the perceptual apparatus is altered. Each sense organ provides a sensation, which is kept independent from the other, monosensorial sensation (pictogramic representation). These sensations are not coupled with the modalities of perception, (their is no interaction permitting the creation of the meaning of the reality): the conjunction of sense-data fails, therefore common sense is affected (Bion, 1967). Anzieu (1985, p. 127) says that common sense "which the baseline is always relative to the sense of touch" is altered and the "intersensorial function" of the skin-ego is attacked. The child cannot experiment the situation he is living because this situation is de-consensualited and reduced to a simple perception, only sensory and proprioceptive. The I is momentarily anaesthetised [START_REF] Poupard | Addiction a l'alcool, objets concrets et régulation des éprouvés internes[END_REF]: what he experiences is just an apposition of sensations which are not linked to their inner perceptions. The sense of reality disappears leaving the child in unreadable dimension.

From a structural point of view we can refer to Meltzer's work (1975) in which he suggests that the underlying conflict in autism is between "the Id, the Ego and the ideal Ego" (1975, p. 29). We draw a parallel between this "ideal Ego" and Klein's early superego (1945) and [START_REF] Freud | Pour introduire le narcissisme[END_REF][START_REF] Freud | Le moi et le ça" in Essais de psychanalyse[END_REF] ideal Ego (idealich), the ideal of omnipotent narcissistic power. We underline the fact that the entities present in dismantled state are the Id, with its death drives (hetero-or auto-aggression, destruction or self-destruction) and life drives (sexual and selfpreservative) on one hand and the ideal ego on the other hand. Dismantling process provoques a triple attack against link. The fist happens between the primal pictogramic inscriptions of a self-experience. The second takes place between these pictograms located in the Unconscious and the possible word representations which could have contained the experience and give sense to it. The third, between the imprint of the pictogram and the investment directed towards them. There is no symbolisation of the sensorial self-experience during dismantled state but it exists as pre-symbolic pictogramic traces.

From an economic point of view, during the dismantling process, the quantity of energy flow (the quota of affect) is scattered on each sense which creates a partitioning of the energy charge and hence a reduction of the tension. Each sense being focalized on a pictogram (punctic concentration describe by [START_REF] Bion | Attaque des liens[END_REF], the affect is then neither linked nor free but just deposited in each of the objects that the sensations are centred on (monosensoriel way). Dismantling helps the child to extract himself from the outer world and from a relationship to the other. It has a function: an autistic protection. It produces disinvestment of the world around, reality is suspended, to over invest it element per element, creating pictograms simultaneously. Libido is free and is redirected to the only possible reality, the pictograms in the hic et nunc. We believe that the autistic shell [START_REF] Tustin | Autistic states in Children[END_REF] is built according to that function of the dismantling process. By unlinking the self-experiences in sensuous forms, the child with autistic disorder has no conscious representative of either what he is experiencing or of with whom. This creates an autistic envelope called « a shell ».

From a developmental point of view, the dismantling process is the reviviscence of the deconsensual state the infant lives through during his first months after birth when he has not yet experienced the consensual state supported by the capacity of a third party to combine senses. The child with autistic disorder uses as he wishes this de-consensual state where the mother-object is stopped in its consensualizing function. Interactions with the environment do not combine and remain separate, preventing stable object relations to be elaborated. As for the genetic point of view, [START_REF] Meltzer | Explorations in autism[END_REF] assumed that the occurrence of the dismantling process depended on the consensualizing capacity of the mother-object. The infant uses that process during the growing dyadic infant/mother relationship, when the attraction of the mother-object creates an aesthetic shock causing the withdrawal from the relationship. The sensorial consensualizing process, the remanteling, re-gathering process cannot take place. [START_REF] Meltzer | Explorations in autism[END_REF] considers that the origin of the dismantling is the impossible access to consensual attraction, resulting in the suspension of the attention towards the outer world. The child is like suspended, dismantled. Our hypothesis differs in that point, we suggest that during the dismantled state, the child is awaiting the mother-object, and this state exists not only in the autistic condition in children.

From a therapeutic point of view, we suggest that this analysis of the dismantled state can help the therapist when working with children with autistic disorder. The therapist can help the re-gathering of senses, remantling, by offering re-consensualizing experiences through the transference process. Directly soliciting the child with autistic disorder can lead him to invest sensorial experiences consensualized by an Other. This complex situation for the therapist has lead us to describe a therapeutic process based on pictograms [START_REF] Barrer | Le mécanisme de démantèlement dans l'autisme: transformation et cocréation du lien intersubjectif en psychothérapie de l'enfant[END_REF], a way of behaving according with remantling process and associated with an evolution of the transference -counter transference process.

Conclusion

Throughout this article we have described the dismantling process and studied its underlying defence mechanism as a major defence mechanism in autistic disorder. We have also tried to contribute to the elaboration of a metapsychological approach of Meltzer's concept (1975). Our clinical experience with children with autistic disorder lead us to question ourselves on the dismantling process. Our research also lead us to describe the phenomenon, the aim of which being to model that process. We have proposed a modelling of the dismantling process and are convinced that a theoretical and psychopathological field is open to other autistic phenomena revealed in the 80's.

Conflict of interest: none.


Jean-Baptiste Coyos

The Dynamics between Unified Basque & Dialects in the Northern Basque Country: A survey based on Perceptual Dialectology

Keywords: Unified Basque, Basque dialects, Northern Basque Country, Perceptual Dialectology, survey (2018)

Today Unified Basque, a standardised written version of Basque created by the Academy of the Basque Language from the 1960s onwards and which is now widely codified, coexists alongside the Northern Basque Country's dialects (NBC, France). Understanding the relationship between these different forms of the Basque language is necessary in order to implement an appropriate language policy. In this paper we present the answers to the open-ended questions of a survey and accompanying comments. Based on Perceptual Dialectology, the questionnaire was completed by 40 people working in Basque in the NBC: writers, teachers, journalists, translators and language technicians. The main objective was to gather their opinions regarding Unified Basque and the dialects. The respondents were chosen according to the following criterion: they are all language prescribers, working in the language and providing a model of the Basque language for society. The main results of the survey are as follows: 95% of respondents think that Unified Basque is necessary in the NBC, 92.5% believe that the specificities of the NBC's linguistic varieties should be preserved, 80% that Unified Basque does not harm the NBC's dialects and more than half that there is now a form of Unified Basque specific to the NBC.

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Indeed, the everyday language variety of a part of the NBC's inhabitants is the dialect learned at home, and the second, a kind of standard Basque specific to this territory, is used in certain formal situations such as academic education. Nevertheless, unlike this classical definition, standard Basque is also used for ordinary conversation and, as mentioned above, it has some young native speakers in the NBC too. This standard is used in ordinary conversation among speakers who have not learned a dialect and, for those who do speak one, due to difficulties in understanding each other, in particular the speakers of the easternmost dialect, Souletine dialect. Understanding the relationship between unified Basque and the NBC's dialects, the dynamics and the ongoing evolution at stake is therefore necessary to implement an appropriate language policy. It should be noted that Basque has benefitted from public language policy since 2004.

The Euskara Eskuz Esku (EEE) project and the survey 2

Unified Basque has progressed a great deal over the last forty years, including in the Northern Basque Country. The need for it is no longer called into question and it is well established in many walks of life, both for in spoken and written form. However, many issues remain. The first is perhaps defining what Unified Basque is. Is it strictly speaking the Basque which appears in the Royal Academy of the Basque Language's norms? To a certain extent, the answer to this question is yes. Are the different varieties of Basque used in Bilbao and Bayonne changing due to the influence of Spanish and Biscayan, or French and the dialects of the NBC? This is also the case. Koldo Zuazo calls these "local" forms of Unified Basque (2005, 231. or.). Therefore, without going into greater detail at this point, we can say that nowadays Unified Basque is complex, has many varieties and is still evolving. Like all regulated languages, it is not at all monolithic. In the context of this complex linguistic situation, the Royal Academy of the Basque Language set up the Euskara Eskuz Esku (EEE) project in order to answer the needs, doubts and questions of the NBC's native-Basque speakers, as well as those learning the language. The aim of the Euskara Eskuz Esku project is to develop a new linguistic tool for Basque-speakers from the Northern Basque country, which takes into account language diversity. By constantly creating a usable and updated digital support, the objective is to directly answer the questions of Basque-speakers via a website or e-mail. This support will provide the recommendations and rules proposed by the Royal Academy of the Basque Language with simple articles in alphabetical order, divided into linguistic categories and highlighting those which refer to the Northern Basque Country's linguistic diversity. We can, for example, quote the 5th rule, "Ene/Nire, Niri". In a single page of text, firstly the Royal Academy of the Basque Language observes that ene is the oldest form, "from Biscayan to Souletin". Later, "in the late 17th century, nere appeared" and finally nire, first in Biscayan. Consequently, "In this case, taking into account how old and widespread it is, niri should be given priority". However, the rule in the final table is as follows: "The Royal Academy of the Basque Language's decision is as follows: the pronoun ni with noren should use nire (and, of course, niretzat, nirekin), and similarly ene, at least in formal contexts. With the case nori, niri should be used". This is the work of EEE: in this case, for example, to show that ene as usedin the Northern Basque Country has not been excluded by the Royal Academy of the Basque Language and in this territory nire, which has begun to be used should not be given priority, since this would be supposedly be "true" unified Basque. Ene should therefore be taught in ikastolas (Basquemedium schools) and adult Basque language learning centres. Generally, the aim is to show how Unified Basque can be achieved in the Northern Basque Country, bearing in mind it is the speakers themselves who make this decision. At the end of the chain, the speaker adapts the language, in our case Basque, making it evolve. A language academy or institution can put forward proposals, but in the end it is the users, ie. the speakers, who decide when using the language. In this paper, we present the initial results provided as part of the EEE project. The main aim of this survey is to analyse how unified Basque and the dialects interact with each other in the Northern Basque Country, and what the future holds in the eyes of the respondents, or to put it another way, how the survey's participants see Basque's language ecosystem in this territory. We shall hereafter present the survey and the participants. However, first of all, we shall present our theoretical framework, that of perceptual dialectology. 117

About Perceptual Dialectology

What is perceptual dialectology?

Perceptual dialectology falls under the heading of sociolinguistics and is part of what is referred to as folk linguistics, which looks at how non-linguists understand dialectal variation and its status. Rather than studying language phenomena, perceptual dialectology studies what we may refer to as the language awareness of speakers. The linguistic beliefs, feelings and attitudes of speakers influence their language behaviour (Cramer,p. 1). Marie-Anne Paveau states: "(…) popular proposals are not necessarily false or need to be discarded from science, they are perceptual, subjective and incomplete knowledge, to be used as part of scientific language data" (2008, p. 94). "Therefore, scientific linguistics should use folk linguistics as a collection of data, which is not collected in a scientific manner by a scientific linguist". This common feature in social science with regard to scientific observation is described by Paveau: "(…) scientific observation has to be removed from scientific fragility and subjective positions which are often idolectal" (ibid., p. 107). Furthermore, by understanding how a language community's speakers' perceive the language, perceptual dialectology can help implement more detailed language policies (Cramer,p. 2). This is one of the aims of the EEE project: to understand the extent to which Unified Basque is accepted in the NBC, the status of dialects and the value ascribed to them, in order to improve coordination between these different types of Basque.

Perceptual dialectology & its usefulness

Perceptual dialectology can also provide other tools and information. "An individual's linguistic awareness may appear in different ways and may be: i) explicit: through a speaker's linguistic beliefs, knowledge (intuitive), opinions or conclusions (in that case, we can refer to an explicit linguistic awareness); ii) implicit: characterised by a speaker's linguistic representation, behaviour or attitudes (in this case, we can refer to an implicit linguistic awareness)" (Gally,p. 2). "Answers based on perceptual dialectology can be used, as a point of departure, to measure a language's prestige, attractiveness, knowledge and level of understanding" (Sanders. p. 3). This will be of use for our study. "One of the aims of perceptual dialectology is "(…) to determine and understand, as well as explain certain linguistic phenomena, variation and changes in a given sociolinguistic community" (Berruto, quoted by Gally,p. 3). In this case, the aim is to try to understand the basis of Unified Basque in the Northern Basque Country, to what extent, in what form and how it is evolving, alongside this territory's dialects and varieties. Given the above, why use perceptual dialectology in our project? We also want to analyse the linguistic beliefs, feelings and behaviour of Basque-speakers in the NBC with regard to Unified Basque. We want to measure this complex and changing linguistic reality, not as we see it, but rather through the eyes of those most affected by the linguistic reality of the Northern Basque Country with a group of survey respondents. In the fifth section we shall explain how we chose the survey's participants.

Survey structure & nature of the questions

The questionnaire is intended for those working with the Basque language, the main aim being to collect opinions about Unified Basque and dialects in the Northern Basque Country. Our initial intuition and working hypothesis were that in this territory, although the dialects have more or less survived, inland at least, particularly in the province of Soule, at the same time a unifying process has been gaining momentum in the provinces of Labourd and Lower Navarre, especially amongst the younger generations, primarily through education, since family transmission is overall quite low. Furthermore, older native Basque-speakers, who learnt local varieties at home without being familiar with Unified Basque, are dying out. This is the overall trend in the Northern Basque Country, where Basque-speakers increasingly know about and master Unified Basque, or at least a form of Unified Basque, even if it is not that of the Royal Academy of the Basque Language (cf. 1st section). The responses were collected during 2018. Questionnaire There are fourteen questions, some closed (YES/NO) and others open. However, even in closed questions respondents were able to add comments. Answers and comments are given in section 6. The questions were as follows.

1. In your opinion, is there a form of Unified Basque specific to the Northern Basque Country? 2. If you answered yes to the above question, do you think there is a written form of Unified Basque in the Northern Basque Country? 3. However, if you answered yes to question 1, do you think there is a specific spoken form of Unified Basque in the Northern Basque Country?

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In the first group of 3 questions, we analyse whether there is a form of Unified Basque specific to the Northern Basque Country and what its features are. Obviously, not all respondents share the same definition of Unified Basque.

Consequently, this is one of the obstacles for respondents, since they do not all understand questions in the same way.

What are the issues regarding Unified Basque in the Northern Basque Country? 5. Does Unified Basque harm the Northern Basque Country's dialects?

In this second group of questions the aim is to endeavour to analyse whether there are inevitably problems in the relationship between Unified Basque and the dialects. We did not want to take sides in the debate on whether Unified Basque could jeopardise the dialects, etc., although some respondents may think this to be the case.

6. Should the Northern Basque Country's dialects be protected? 7. Is language diversity useful in the case of Basque?

The third group of questions deals with the value of the wealth of dialects in the Northern Basque Country and generally, whether the diversity of Basque is useful.

Do you think Unified Basque is necessary in the Northern Basque Country?

The eighth question is clear. Not all the respondents understood the same thing by "Unified Basque", but this issue was cleared up in their comments.

In your opinion, what are the biggest mistakes made in the Northern Basque Country? Which are the most common?

This question tried to show a different aspect of respondents. As we can see, they are all prescribers in one way or another (teachers, writers, journalists, translators, Basque language technicians, etc.), the aim of the question being to make them see how they viewed the issue of quality. This can also be of help for the creators and users of the EEE digital support: problems, doubts and possible "mistakes" in Basque … 10. Where, when and with whom do you use Unified Basque? 11. Where, when and with whom do you use your dialect?

The aim here was to assess how respondents use either Unified Basque and/or the dialect.

How do you see the future of Unified Basque and dialects in the Northern Basque Country?

Here, of course, nobody can predict the future. The aim was to collect people's opinions and feelings, both optimistic and pessimistic, of those in favour of Unified Basque and those in favour of the dialects, etc.

Would you like to add any comments about Unified Basque and/or the dialects in the Northern Basque Country?

This open question gave respondents the possibility to add comments and many took advantage of this opportunity. On the 14th question, see below at the beginning of section 6.

Data collection method

The survey was carried out in two ways. On the one hand, respondents filled in a digital document and returned it by email. The length of responses was unlimited. On the other hand, a face-to-face interview was carried out with ten respondents, each asked fourteen questions. The interviews were recorded and transcribed. Furthermore, some of those recorded also filled in a written questionnaire. The freedom enjoyed by the respondents gave a wide and rich corpus. Sometimes, they did not respond to all the questions and some mentioned other things, but always contributing something with regard to Unified Basque and the dialects, explaining their personal experience, feelings, beliefs and attitudes.

Profile of respondents -Selection criteria

In the tradition of perceptual dialectology, those who are not linguists, common speakers, are questioned in order to find out, for example, what they think are the areas where their speech variety is or is not spoken, maps, to define the boundaries of language variation. The research subjects were then provided, for instance, by asking common speakers to listen to a sample of different language varieties to measure how different they were, how comfortable they felt with them or how correct they were, etc. Our aim is not to study common native speakers who are not familiar with Unified Basque. Some of these have never even heard the expression "Unified Basque". They do not fall within the scope of our study because the aim of the research is not to collect prejudices, stereotypes and clichés about Unified Basque or the dialects of the Northern Basque Country, often spread by those who do not even speak the language, and, of course, without analysing or researching the subject, without validating their affirmation. This could be the subject of further research. Our goal is to analyse the situation of Unified Basque in the Northern Basque Country, how it coexists alongside the dialects, etc. based on a survey.

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What criteria did we use to choose the respondents or informants? They were all, in one way or another, Basque language prescribers in the NBC, meaning they all work with Basque: they teach Basque or in Basque, including several dialectologists, or write and publish their work in Basque, or are journalists, or translate from French into Basque mainly or vice-versa, or are Basque language technicians in local authorities, etc. This means they pass on the Basque language in public life, they provide Basque to be listened to or read and therefore are prescribers. They are Basque "model" providers, each with their own particular model. Despite the fact that most of the time they are not linguists, they have to make choices. What type of Basque to use: their own dialect, if they have one, or Unified Basque? Which type of Unified Basque? Who is the audience? What is the context? What is the aim, etc? In that sense, Marie-Anne Paveau's comment seems relevant here: "Are there any discrepancies between a speaker who is not a linguist and one who is? The philosopher, Michael Devitt, says this is not the case and believes that the intuitions of linguists are better than those of folk linguists since intuitions are not as innate as we may believe, but full of theories" (ibid., p. 104). In order to determine this observation, we can say that the intuitions of non-linguists are also based on theories, or rather micro-theories, although these are not thought out or cultivated. They are based on language ideologies, spread by schools, the media and leading opinion, both in France and Spain.

Respondent profile: personal data

Before answering the fourteen questions (cf. section 4), the respondents provided some personal data: first name(s), surname, date, date of birth, place of birth, place of residence, how they learnt Basque and e-mail address. Those who answered the written survey all provided this information. However, we were unable to collect all the personal data of those who only answered the recorded interview. This is why in the tables below there is an "unknown" column. The survey stipulated that the results would be anonymous and the 14th question of the EEE project asked respondents if they would be prepared for their name to appear in the list of participants (cf. section 3 of full survey). All, with the exception of two, accepted their names appearing on the list.

Age -Sex

Age One or two answers should be taken into consideration. This research subject is worthy of long comments, but since the question was quite short and the answer was either one word or sentence. Moreover, some informants gave two points of view, at home and school, for example, if they needed to distinguish spoken and written Basque, or AEK (association of night-schools) and self-teaching, etc. In these cases, two viewpoints are shown in the table, crossing the lines and columns.

On the other hand, amongst those who had only learnt Basque at home, some improved, lost or recovered their knowledge of the language at school or through self-teaching. Family transmission is predominant with almost 90%. Of these 20% added self-teaching, ie. lifelong learning, or they forgot Basque before recovering it, or having learnt to speak it during childhood, they learnt how to write it at a later date. These are however assumptions. In the survey this question was not asked, but since we knew the profession of all the respondents, we were able to fill it in ourselves.

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We distinguished seven categories. In the first line we put Researcher Dialectologist since they research Unified Basque and dialects as part of their job. We can assume that, theoretically, they were better acquainted with the research subject than the other respondents. However, members of other categories could also have very precise knowledge. These are secondary school teachers, university lecturers and adult language trainers; we did not distinguish these. Two researchers are also lecturers. The teachers category was the largest with a third of respondents. Those in the "Other" category work in the field of Basque culture and use Basque on a daily basis, both spoken and written. Full members of the Royal Academy of the Basque Language, as well as assistant and honorary members, represented more than 25% of respondents.

Closed questions: answers

We shall now analyse the answers to the eight closed questions: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7 and 8. Our research subject's final question, no. 14, did not provide any information. The table had four categories: "YES", "NO", "YES and NO" when the answer was not clear, and "No Answer".Whether they were asked in the survey to do so or not, most respondents provided certain comments to qualify their answer. We shall mention some of these below. Over half of respondents believe that there is now a form of Unified Basque specific to the Northern Basque Country, less than one third thinks this is not the case, and three respondents answered both yes and no. In some cases, the comments provide extra clarity and deserve a longer explanation, which we shall do in another paper. However, some are worth mentioning here without going into detail. Those who answered yes and added comments give as an example the weekly publication Herria or the supplement Ipar Euskal Herriko Hitza to the newspaper Berria. These state that thanks to Basque-medium schools (ikastolas) there is a standard (being created), especially if we compare this to the Southern Basque Country. However the situation is rather unclear, since it has been "contaminated" by both French and the NBC's dialects. We can therefore say that this special form of Basque is not so "unified".

Here is a comment of a respondent: "In my view, there is a standard emerging between the Basque of Labourd and Lower Navarre. I'd call it a standard". For a minority of respondents there has been a minimal "Unified Basque" for a long time in the NBC based on the Basque of Labourd and Lower Navarre in magazines, such as Eskualduna, Gure Herria and Herria, or various church documents (Sunday school, books for mass, etc). Amongst those who answered no and added comments, the main comment was that between Larrau (Soule) and Hendaye (South Labourd), it cannot be said there is a single form of Unified Basque. For example: "Those who know it, use it. I don't know it. I think we mix everything up, "our" Basque and Unified Basque. I wouldn't say that we have a special form of Unified Basque". For a small minority there is a single Unified Basque, for the entire Basque Country.

Here is the comment of one respondent who answered "Yes and No": "It's difficult to say either yes or no. I'd say there's a trend, but I'm not sure if the same "Northern Unified Basque" is spoken in Saint-Palais and Hendaye, I don't think so." 122

If we compare it to the first table, in the NBC half of respondents said there is a written Unified Basque. However, a much smaller number of respondents said this was not the case. Logically, if they answered no to the first question, they also answered no to the second.

We added an open question to the 2nd closed "If YES, what are its features?" question. In short, amongst those who answered yes to this question, they believe they apply the rules of Unified Basque (Royal Academy of the Basque Language), using new words and the standard verb, but however keeping the vocabulary and sayings of the NBC: therefore, something close to Unified Basque. This is why we make the distinction between writers from the Northern and Southern Basque Country. Comment: "It has absorbed many words from the dialects [NBC Unified Basque], numerous new words and a standard verb. This comes, in my opinion, from teaching in Basque, radio, etc.". Very few said no and answered this question. They think in the NBC things are being mixed up. The comment of someone who said both "Yes and No": "It's not a mistake ... Although I think the NBC's "Unified" Basque is not completely correct, there are some traces of the Northern Basque Country in some written documents". Those who answered yes and also answered the open question said this specific form of Basque is more marked in writing than in speaking. The local phonetics and prosody are maintained, except those of Soule. In that respect, speakers know how far they can go when speaking with someone, depending on where they are from in the NBC and what dialect they speak. On the other hand, the "unified Basque" of new Basque speakers and that of those who speak a dialect should be distinguished.

Here is the comment of one respondent who did not think there is a Unified Basque specific to the Northern Basque Country: "In spoken Basque the situation is less clear. Rather than a specific Unified Basque for the Northern Basque Country, I'd say all Basque speakers from the Northern Basque Country can easily understand each other. There are several reasons for this: Basque-speakers meet in the capital of the Northern Basque Country, Bayonne, the strength of Basque radio, the development of Basque-medium schools".

As we have already seen, many did not answer the first question on whether there was a specific form of Unified Basque in the Northern Basque Country, and one third said there was not. Question no. 5: Does Unified Basque harm the Northern Basque Country's dialects?

YES 3 7.50% NO 32 80.00%
YES and NO 3 7.50%

No answer 2 5.00% 80% of respondents believe the existence of Unified Basque does not harm the dialects of the Northern Basque Country. 7,5% said the opposite. Some answered and added comments, which can be summarised as follows. Those who said no believe Unified Basque itself does not harm the dialects, although it does if it is not used correctly, or if we think that the dialects are insufficient or wrong, or that the variety specific to the Southern Basque Country is true Unified Basque. However, French does harm them. That Unified Basque goes against the dialects is a "false argument", provided they are all used in appropriate situations. A comment by way of an example: "French is much more harmful to the dialects than Unified Basque". The three who answered yes said that the Northern Basque Country's Basque-medium schools and night-schools, with the exception of the province of Soule, harm the knowledge and use of local varieties of Basque by teaching and using a type of Unified Basque, and that the dialects will be increasingly marginalised. One said: "That means, in the long term, if Unified Basque spreads through education, the dialects will be marginalised, less and less people will speak them and over time they may disappear". Another said: "Yes, logically. The way people speak, the vocabulary and words we use will gradually disappear". Here are two comments about this specificity: "Yes, without a doubt, as far possible, but without any nostalgia: this makes people fearful and the language become less natural, which should not be the case". "I think we need perspective and we need to reflect about the overall situation of Basque. (...) What do we want for the future? To keep Basque alive, as one of the world's languages, pass it on and spread it. That's why we need to strengthen its roots and body, by consolidating Unified Basque. Otherwise it will disappear, it will be swallowed up by other languages".

Other respondents made a more general comment, saying that without marginalising the Northern Basque Country's specificities, we are now in the process of unifying Basque: "Standardisation is what drives language. Our unified language is still too young, in my opinion, it's still work in progress. Once we're all able to use it, then it'll be unified". The most commonly used expression is "rich" or "wealth": 21 out of 36 respondents used one of these words (wealth, enriching, rich, richer, etc, also treasure). The Northern Basque Country's dialects feed Unified Basque, they are markers of identity, they make language pleasurable, they enable inter-generational communication. However, they are not protected enough and are becoming impoverished. This respondent links dialect to identity: "The Basque I've spoken since I was small has been that of Saint-Jean-Piedde-Port, it's a special dialect. The dialects have an identity, we know the person speaking is from there and I personally think that's an advantage".

Here is a comment by a mother about using a dialect and the transformation in the Northern Basque Country: "It depends on everyone's own feelings. I use the Basque of Ciboure when I speak with my children, they learn the Basque of Mendionde at the ikastola, it's a wonderful mixture. I don't see specificities as restrictive (in Hendaye they speak one way, in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port another ...), but rather as a richness". This respondent also mentioned discrimination against Basque-speakers and self-depreciation: "Even more than the dialects of Basque, all Basque speakers need protecting and therefore "Basque-speakers who speak a dialect" too. Basque speakers were discriminated against because they did not fully master French or spoke with an accent and this continues to be the case today (even though not quite so acutely). Added to this, the fact that certain Basque-speakers show contempt for their "own" form of Basque, eg. because it is the Basque they learnt at home, not at school. This way of thinking has had a negative effect on both usage and transmission".

No respondents stated that the specific varieties of Basque in the NBC should not be protected. No answer 4 10.00%

There is a large degree of unanimity with this general question. Yes, language diversity is positive for the Basque language. It is worth noting that question n° 7 is very close to question n° 6. Even when not asked, some respondents added comments.

It is important to have a variety of tools (Unified Basque, dialect, local variety, family language etc.), different registers. Here also, several respondents mention the notion of wealth. Language diversity makes the Basque language richer. Two comments. The first: "Having several possibilities is always a good thing, in all walks of life" and the second: "This language diversity brings wealth. That's something which is universal". This is the question which gave rise to the greatest unanimity. None of the respondents said no and just one said both yes and no. Overall, therefore, the respondents believe that there is a need for unified Basque in the Northern Basque Country. Almost all the respondents answered the question "Why?", mentioning the need for language unity to bring together the Basque-speaking community: "It's essential, both in the Northern and Southern Basque Country. Worldwide experience shows that in order to save a threatened language, unity is essential, not only a unified language, but also a unified community of speakers". The respondents said that Unified Basque is needed for Basque-speakers to understand each other, with those who speak a dialect, those from across the border and the diaspora, eg. to understand the contemporary writer Bernardo Atxaga's works or Euskal Telebista (Basque Governement Television), the mass media, science and philosophy, in education and government... Since it is a threatened language, linguistic unity is needed to save the language as well as the for the unity of the linguistic community. Most new Basques only speak Unified Basque. The most commonly expressed reason was to ensure Basque-speakers are able to understand each other. Four comments. First: "Why? To ensure mutual understanding. But we'd like to see them [Southern Basques] doing the same for us, but the other way round. Unified Labourdin has existed for over a century, without losing the dialects or sub-dialects". Second: "Because we are a people, the people who speak Basque and a language is not to divide people, but to enable them to communicate with each other. We can be both different and one". Third: "In the Northern Basque Country, Basque is not at all hegemonous. We shouldn't waste our energy". And finally: "In all languages the same thing has happened [having a unified language], so why not with Basque too?".

No respondent said in the NBC having a unified Basque is not necessary. Perhaps that is this survey's most important contribution.

Conclusions

In this paper, we have only explained the comments which respondents added to the closed questions. We shall provide explanations of open questions in another paper. We can say that this sample is representative with 40 respondents. However, few women or young people took part.

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As said in section 1, in 2016 in the Northern Basque Country there were an estimated 51,200 Basque-speakers, ie. 20.5% of the population (Basque Government, VI. Sociolinguistic Survey). It is estimated that there are less than 1000 who work with Basque, our target audience: teachers, writers, journalists, translators, Basque-language technicians, etc., of which teachers are the largest group.

In the first section of this paper, we said that it was not easy to sum up the complex linguistic situation of the Northern Basque Country. However, overall, several trends can be observed in the survey. 92.5% of respondents believe the Northern Basque Country's linguistic specificities should be protected. The most commonly used description was "wealth". 80% of respondents say unified Basque does not harm the dialects of the Northern Basque Country, but French does. Language diversity is useful for Basque: Unified Basque, the dialects and local varieties, providing various different registers. Is Unified Basque needed in the Northern Basque Country? This question received greatest unanimity with 95%. It is needed for mutual understanding, between Basques, with Basques from the Southern Basque Country and the diaspora. It is needed in many walks of modern life, as is the case in other languages. Over half of respondents believe that a specific form of Unified Basque exists in the Northern Basque Country. Of these, some say that a Unified Basque has been in existence for a long time in the Northern Basque Country, based on Labourdin and Lower Navarrese. Today, overall, when this Unified Basque is written, they believe the rules set by the Royal Academy of the Basque Language are applied, using new words and the regulated verb, but with the lexis and sayings of Northern Basque. In the Northern Basque Country this influence can be seen more in the phonetics and prosody, along with the influence of French. This is also the case with the lexis. This Basque is more unified in its written form than in its spoken form, because its local phonetics and prosody are kept when spoken. Following this survey the next stage will be to analyse the results of open questions and these will be published, always with the aim of better understanding the relationship between Unified Basque and the dialects of the Northern Basque Country, of better understanding the degree of acceptance of Unified Basque and its integration into today's Basque language.

  With regard to the sex parameter, the two groups were not equally balanced. The female group only represented one third of respondents. This could be improved. The age groups are more equally balanced, but the 20-34 age group is empty. This is not because in this age group there are less "prescribers", although there are few young writers in the NBC. There are Basque teachers especially and Basque language technicians. However, the researchers know less respondents in this category. In any case, this agegroup is to be studied more precisely, to understand, amongst other things, how they consider Unified Basque, because everyone has learned it at school, in one way or another, which is not the case for older generations.The appeal of the coast of Labourd can clearly be seen if we compare this with place of birth. Bayonne-Anglet-Biarritz (including Saint-Pierre-d'Irube and Villefranque) is the NBC's main conurbation. In the case of Soule, place of birth and place of residence are comparable. However, Lower Navarre has lost almost two out of every three respondents.

	Place of residence
	Province	Labourd	Lower Navarre	Soule	SBC	Unknown
		24	6		7	2	1
	%	60.00%	15.00%	17.50%	5.00%	2.50%
	How did you learn Basque?
		Home	Ikastola	AEK	Self-taught	Unknown
	Home	26
	Ikastola	2	1
	AEK				1	1
	Self-taught	7				1
	Unknown						1
	%	87.50%	2.50%	2.50%	5.00%	2.50%
	group	20-34	35-49	50-64	≥ 65	unknown	%
	Female	14		4	7	3		35.00%
	Male	26		7	8	10	1	65.00%
	%			27.50%	37.50%	32.50%	2.50%
	Place of birth
	Province	Labourd	Lower Navarre Soule	SBC	France
		11	15		6	5	3
	%	27.50%	37.50%	15.00%	12.50%	7.50%
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Almost 40% of respondents were born in Lower Navarre, three outside the Basque Country (two in Paris and one in Pau) and five in the Southern Basque Country (SBC). This data is interesting to find out which dialect they heard or learnt during childhood, especially when they say they learnt Basque at home (cf. below).

Profession / Former profession -Main job

				% Full member of the	Honorary -Assistant member
				Academy
	Researcher -Dialectologist 2	5.00%		2
	Teacher	11	27.50%	1	2
	Writer	6	15.00%	2	1
	Journalist	6	15.00%		3
	Basque technician	6	15.00%
	Translator	4	10.00%
	Other	5	12.50%

  Question n° 1: In your opinion, is there now a form of Unified Basque specific to the Northern Basque Country?

	YES	23	57.50%
	NO	11	27.50%
	YES and NO	3	7.50%
	No answer	3	7.50%

  Question n° 3. However, if you answered yes to question 1, do you think there is a specific spoken form of Unified Basque in the Northern Basque Country?

	YES	20	50.00%
	NO	6	15.00%
	YES and NO	2	5.00%
	No answer	12	30.00%

As with question no. 2, if we compare it with the 3rd table above, half of respondents think there is a specific unified form of spoken Basque in the NBC. However, those who answered no are in a minority. Logically, those who answered no to question no. 1 also answered no to question no. 3. An open question was added to closed question no. 3: "If you answered YES, what are its distinguishing features?".

  With this question, there is more unanimity: 92.5%. They believe the Northern Basque Country's dialects should be protected. "Why?" With this question, comments and explanations were asked for, and almost all respondents answered.

	Question n° 6. Should the Northern Basque Country's dialects be protected?
	YES	37	92.5%
	NO	0	0%
	YES and NO	2	5.00%
	No answer	1	2.50%

  Therefore, in this case, opinions are very clear.

	Question n° 7: Is language diversity useful in the case of Basque?
	YES	35	87.50%
	NO	1	2.50%
	YES and NO	0	0%
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  The only respondent to have replied no did not leave any comments. Question n° 8: Do you think Unified Basque is necessary in the Northern Basque Country?

	YES	38	95.00%
	NO	0	0%
	YES and NO	1	2.50%
	No answer	1	2.50%

This paper is a revised and expanded version of a paper written in Basque (Euskera,

2018, 63-2, Bilbao: Academy of the Basque Language). It is intended for those who are not familiar with the current sociolinguistic situation of the Basque language.

The Euskara Eskuz Esku (The Basque Language from Hand to Hand) project has been 65% co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) through the Interreg V-A Spain France Andorra programme(POCTEFA 2014(POCTEFA -2020)). POCTEFA aims to reinforce the economic and social integration of the French-Spanish-Andorran border. Its support is focused on developing economic, social and environmental cross-border activities through joint strategies favouring sustainable territorial development.