The proportion is impressive: in Martinique, Creole is spoken or understood by around 80% of the population! However, its status is that of all so-called “regional” languages. It is reduced to a minimum on television. It is not taught systematically in public schools or, when it is, it is for barely a few hours per week. And if it is tolerated in administrations, businesses and local assemblies, it is by break-in. This is why West Indian elected officials decided to take a strong political action. On May 25, they voted on the following deliberation: “The Assembly of Martinique recognizes the Creole language as the official language of Martiniquejust like French.”
WOULD YOU LIKE TO RECEIVE THIS NEWSLETTER EVERY WEEK? >> Click here
As could be expected, the prefect immediately attacked this text before the administrative courts and, in all likelihood, the courts will ultimately vindicate him. According to the – contested – interpretation of the Constitutional Council, French must in fact be the only official language of the Republic everywhere. But that is not the main thing. The essential thing, for Caribbean elected officials, is to move from one imaginary to another, to remember that all languages are equal, and, fundamentally, to refuse a form of cultural colonialism. This is a “fight for the dignity and identity of the Martinique people,” commented Serge Letchimy, president of the Executive Council of Martinique.
Oh, of course, in this territory marked by unemployment and poverty, some believe that priorities lie elsewhere. “Fighting for the language does not prevent us from taking into account and dealing with unemployment, infrastructure or the economy”, replies to L’Express Michelle Monrose, president of the culture, art and heritage commission of the community. Others believe that English would be much more useful. “Not only is the promotion of Creole recognized as an excellent way to combat illiteracy and promote mastery of French,” continues the elected official, “but it is obviously possible to learn several languages.” Still others fear that this claim will mask a desire for “distancing” and “rupture” with France, as highlighted by the signatories of a forum. “In no way, assures Michelle Monrose. It is simply a question of a desire to recognize the equal value of the two languages. Moreover, the argument seems dangerous to me for France itself because it implies that she would be incapable of recognizing its diversity; which would be a mark of weakness.”
The debate, we see, is as much political as it is linguistic. In this island where the heavy memory of slavery hovers, it awakens in Paris complexes which do not come into play when we speak of Breton, Basque or Alsatian. And yet, when you think about it, the question also arises in mainland France. “No language can establish itself as a “center”, claim “universality” or see itself relegated to a periphery, underlines the writer Patrick Chamoiseau (Goncourt Prize 1992 for Texaco). The idea of an “official language” is part of the monolingual imagination of the proto-colonialists. These barbarians had hierarchized the languages among themselves to better position theirs […]. Since then, every “official language” stands on a graveyard of minor languages.”
By asking France to upgrade the status of Creole, Martinican elected officials are therefore trying to overturn the hierarchy established between “high” language – for which all prestigious functions are reserved – and “low” language – limited to everyday uses. A hierarchy which, in fact, also classifies cultures and civilizations.
FIND VIDEOS DEDICATED TO FRENCH AND THE LANGUAGES OF FRANCE ON my youtube channel
READ ELSEWHERE
Is Aya Nakamura legitimate to represent France at the Olympics?
Yes, replies linguist Corinne Mencé-Caster, after Emmanuel Macron expressed the wish that the most listened to French-speaking artist in the world would perform Edith Piaf during the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games. Certainly, the singer does not use academic French, mixing African terms, verlan and unconventional structures. But “the vitality of the French language is largely due to popular dialects,” underlines Corinne Mencé-Caster, who recalls in particular that the stage name of Piaf itself comes from slang.
When France 2 maintains glottophobia
Sad example of glottophobia (discrimination linked to the language used or the way it is spoken) in the show Close call, broadcast on March 16 on France 2. On the one hand, the Reunionese interviewed are subtitled when they speak French (attention to which the Reunionese are never entitled when a Parisian is on the air). On the other hand, it is stated that the name “Cafres” (designating the Reunionese supposedly of African origin) has as its origin the term “Muslim” kafir… whereas it is a word of Arabic origin . In doing so, the public service maintains the confusion between a language and a religion, seeming to ignore that the majority of Muslims are not Arabs, and that there are non-Muslims among Arabs…
In Canada, the French are starting to speak like Quebecers
The French established in this North American country adopt local expressions. And it’s not just a question of integration.
The Grand Est region opposes “inclusive writing”
Agents in the Grand Est region must no longer use “inclusive writing” in documents from the community. “So-called “inclusive” writing is prohibited in the drafting of letters, notes, reports, wishes, motions, acts, deliberations and any other document emanating from the community,” states an email sent by the director general of services. The senior official relies in particular on a 2017 circular written by Edouard Philippe, then Prime Minister.
Take part in the French language festival
Mir redde platt, (“We speak Platt”), which highlights this Germanic language of Moselle, began on March 20 in Sarreguemines and will continue throughout the year. On the program: films, balls, concerts and conferences.
Operation “spring” for the Alsatian
Only 3% of Alsatians aged 18 to 24 speak Alsatian, while this proportion rises to 69% among those over 55 and shows an average of 46% in the entire population. The Spring of the regional languagewhich takes place from March to June, offers more than 800 meetings to reverse this trend.
What linguistic strategy for France?
“When a language disappears, disappears with it the culture that it conveyed, that is to say a certain reading of the world, of life, of people and things […]. By depriving itself of regional languages, France is depriving itself of the cultures that relate to them.” Based on this observation, Pierre Klein, president of the Alsace Bilingual Federation, organized a conference in 2023 aimed at exploring the concepts of identity and of linguistic strategy. This work brings together the proceedings of this conference in which I had the pleasure of participating.
Identity, language policy and planning. Conference proceedings. Under the direction of Pierre Klein. Editions Fédération Alsace bilingual.
There Convivenciaby Alem Surre Garcia
The concept of Convivencia (“conviviality”, “coexistence”), common to Castilian, Catalan, Portuguese and Occitan cultures, has been taken up since the 1980s by the Occitanist community. In this work, Alem Surre Garcia, essayist, translator, poet and philosopher, questions its relevance and its interest for contemporary society.
Convivencia, by Alem Surre Garcia, Editions Troba Vox.
A short guide to managing anglicisms
Limit borrowings from Anglo-American to terms that really enrich the French language. Refuse those who reflect a form of cultural domination. Involve our German, Italian, Romanian and Croatian neighbors in this approach, subject to the same pressure. This is the open and interesting approach proposed by the European Observatory on Plurilingualism, consisting not of rejecting Anglicisms in principle, but of establishing “a policy of peaceful coexistence” between languages.
TO LISTEN
Africa is rediscovering its national languages, at the expense of French
In this Francophonie month, Radio Canada is looking at the special relationship between Africa and French. And highlights the ongoing process aimed at revaluing local languages to the detriment of the idiom of the former colonial power.
TO WATCH
Use regional languages to learn other languages
Xavi Marquez Ayllon is one of the winners of the “My thesis in 180 seconds” competition. This doctoral student from Paul-Valéry University in Montpellier defends a simple idea: knowledge of a regional language facilitates the learning of other languages. A student who speaks Occitan spontaneously understands Italian and Portuguese twice as well as a monolingual student.
REACT, DEBATE AND FIND MORE INFORMATION ON THE LANGUAGES OF FRANCE ON the Facebook page dedicated to this newsletter.
.