The French The French Language: identity, Language: identity,

diversity and diversity and changing changing

environments.environments.Lectures 4 and 5Lectures 4 and 5Michaelmas term 2012Michaelmas term 2012

The construction of postcolonial The construction of postcolonial identities in Francophone Africaidentities in Francophone Africa

Most of the Francophone African Most of the Francophone African countries are close to celebrating countries are close to celebrating almost 50 years of independence.almost 50 years of independence.

France continues to play a dominant France continues to play a dominant role in French-speaking Africa.role in French-speaking Africa.

BackgroundBackground Area known as Francophone Africa is Area known as Francophone Africa is

made up of :made up of : 14 West and Central African states, 14 West and Central African states,

formerly part of France’s colonial formerly part of France’s colonial empireempire

3 Central African states formerly 3 Central African states formerly under Belgian rule, that have retained under Belgian rule, that have retained French as their national language French as their national language

Most of Francophone Africa was Most of Francophone Africa was brought into existence in its present brought into existence in its present form as a result of :form as a result of : French conquestFrench conquest European hegemonic practice European hegemonic practice Colonial ruleColonial rule

French minister of the colonies in French minister of the colonies in Paris (Paris (Ministre des coloniesMinistre des colonies) was ) was legally responsible for their legally responsible for their administration.administration.

However, However, le gouverneur généralle gouverneur général was was the central figure of the French the central figure of the French colonial administration.colonial administration.

He was the governor of each federal He was the governor of each federal unit.unit.

Although the official goal of French Although the official goal of French administrative policy was to administrative policy was to assimilate all Africans by making assimilate all Africans by making them equal citizens of the French them equal citizens of the French empire, the overall colonial system empire, the overall colonial system was despotic and segregated. was despotic and segregated.

Oppressive and exploitative colonial Oppressive and exploitative colonial rule lasted for more than 70 years.rule lasted for more than 70 years.

This was challenged by World War This was challenged by World War II.II.

Language and identity in Language and identity in Francophone AfricaFrancophone Africa

A striking feature of Francophone A striking feature of Francophone Africa is that in the majority of Africa is that in the majority of countries that make it up, French is countries that make it up, French is not a vernacular but a second not a vernacular but a second language for its users.language for its users.

The following situations are The following situations are characteristic of a great many characteristic of a great many ‘French-speaking’ countries in ‘French-speaking’ countries in Africa:Africa:

Functional distinction between Functional distinction between French and other languagesFrench and other languages

Use of French for specific and Use of French for specific and distinctive purposes.distinctive purposes.

French and the French and the vernacularvernacular

‘‘division of labour’ division of labour’ between French between French and vernacular and vernacular languages:languages:

Characterise in a Characterise in a few words the few words the differences differences between the two between the two functionsfunctions

FrenchFrench VernaculaVernacularr

Legal Legal documendocumentt

Family Family conversaticonversationon

TV news TV news bulletinbulletin

Folk taleFolk tale

Literary Literary discoursediscourse

Workmates Workmates telling telling jokesjokes

Obituary Obituary of of national national herohero

Angry Angry customer customer in marketin market

Division of labour between Division of labour between French and vernacular French and vernacular

languageslanguagesGroup the following situations into:Group the following situations into:

(a) (a) those where a vernacular would those where a vernacular would seem seem appropriateappropriate

(b) (b) those where French would be those where French would be preferable, and preferable, and

(c) (c) those where a case could be those where a case could be made for made for either:either:

Division of labour between Division of labour between French and vernacular French and vernacular

languageslanguagesUniversity lecture, election slogan, secret University lecture, election slogan, secret meeting of terrorist group, National meeting of terrorist group, National Anthem, letter to a government Anthem, letter to a government department, televised speech by state department, televised speech by state president, school maths lesson, tutorial at president, school maths lesson, tutorial at university, job interview, quarrel between university, job interview, quarrel between two motorists, gossiping locals in street-two motorists, gossiping locals in street-corner bar, family reunion, conversation corner bar, family reunion, conversation between school friends, school staff between school friends, school staff meetingmeeting

Division of labour between Division of labour between French and vernacular French and vernacular

languageslanguages This kind of functional This kind of functional

differentiation between co-existing differentiation between co-existing languages in the same speech languages in the same speech community is called community is called diglossia.diglossia.

DiglossiaDiglossia High and low language.High and low language.

Thinking about Thinking about diglossia….diglossia….

Why, in Belgium and Switzerland, is Why, in Belgium and Switzerland, is the relationship of French to the other the relationship of French to the other national languages not a diglossic national languages not a diglossic one?one?

What about the French-English What about the French-English relationships in Quebec?relationships in Quebec?

Why do the Bruxellois form a bilingual Why do the Bruxellois form a bilingual but not a diglossic community?but not a diglossic community?

Low and High languageLow and High language Every citizen of a diglossic society Every citizen of a diglossic society

knows a vernacular or Low (L) knows a vernacular or Low (L) language. language.

Not everyone will know a high Not everyone will know a high variety.variety.

In a diglossic society, what do you In a diglossic society, what do you think are the disadvantages of being think are the disadvantages of being monolingual in L (or conversely the monolingual in L (or conversely the advantages of being bilingual).advantages of being bilingual).

diglossia is a characteristic feature diglossia is a characteristic feature of erstwhile French colonies where of erstwhile French colonies where French remains a foreign language French remains a foreign language for the local populationfor the local population

there are wide differences between there are wide differences between these countries in other aspects of these countries in other aspects of language use and status.language use and status.

The Maghreb (particularly The Maghreb (particularly Algeria)Algeria)

French colonial expansion in North French colonial expansion in North Africa dates from the 1830’s. Africa dates from the 1830’s.

The three departments of Alger, The three departments of Alger, Constantine and Oran were added to Constantine and Oran were added to the 89 metropolitan departments of the 89 metropolitan departments of France.France.

In Tunisia (1881) and Morocco In Tunisia (1881) and Morocco (1912) protectorates were (1912) protectorates were established which enabled these established which enabled these states to preserve a degree of states to preserve a degree of national autonomy.national autonomy.

It also served an important vehicular It also served an important vehicular function in business and technologyfunction in business and technology

In addition, it was the vernacular In addition, it was the vernacular language of around a million language of around a million European settlers in Algeria (pieds-European settlers in Algeria (pieds-noir).noir).

A policy of arabization was A policy of arabization was introduced in all three countries.introduced in all three countries.

ArabisationArabisation Arabisation is closely linked with the Arabisation is closely linked with the

ideological and political struggle currently ideological and political struggle currently taking place in Algeria: (2)taking place in Algeria: (2)

To speak of replacing French by Arabic is To speak of replacing French by Arabic is to oversimplifyto oversimplify

the vernacular varieties spoken in the the vernacular varieties spoken in the Maghreb are very different from Maghreb are very different from standardised literary Arabicstandardised literary Arabic

this is the official language elsewhere in this is the official language elsewhere in the Arab world. (3)the Arab world. (3)

Arabe dialectalArabe dialectal arabe dialectalarabe dialectal isn’t even the native isn’t even the native

language of all Algerians (4)language of all Algerians (4)

Status of FrenchStatus of French For many in the Maghreb, French For many in the Maghreb, French

represents an essential link with the represents an essential link with the modern, secular world. (5)modern, secular world. (5)

Morocco: psycholinguistic Morocco: psycholinguistic test:different ‘thought test:different ‘thought

worlds’worlds’ Respondents 80 bilinguals (F: 38, M: Respondents 80 bilinguals (F: 38, M:

42)42)

Morocco: psycholinguistic Morocco: psycholinguistic test:different ‘thought test:different ‘thought

worlds’worlds’ 6 weeks later – given same sentences in 6 weeks later – given same sentences in

the other language and again asked to the other language and again asked to complete them.complete them.

Some = given French versions first and Some = given French versions first and some the Arabic ones.some the Arabic ones.

Completed sentencesCompleted sentences Sentence 1: Sentence 1: One needs a good jobOne needs a good job

Completed sentencesCompleted sentences Sentence 2: Sentence 2: Rich people can affordRich people can afford

Completed sentencesCompleted sentences Sentence 3: Sentence 3: The future depends onThe future depends on

Completed sentencesCompleted sentences Sentence 4: Sentence 4: A woman without A woman without

childrenchildren

Completed sentencesCompleted sentences Sentence 5: Sentence 5: My aim in life isMy aim in life is

Completed sentencesCompleted sentences Sentence 6: Sentence 6: One needs a good jobOne needs a good job

Completed sentencesCompleted sentences Sentence 7: Sentence 7: When we have guestsWhen we have guests, ,

What cultural values and attitudes What cultural values and attitudes do French and Arabic respectively do French and Arabic respectively appear to represent for these appear to represent for these bilingual speakers?bilingual speakers?