Handout 18: The French-Speaking World (Francophony)

Check topic on :"Discovering France" on http://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/
http://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/france_159/france-in-the-world_6820/cultural-influence-and-the-french-speaking-world_6910/index.html

What is the FRANCOPHONY ?

What countries are part of it?

Institutional System of Francophony

French in different continents.

Francophony:
Term was coined in 1880 by French Onesime Reclus to describe the linguistic and cultural community which France was building with its colonies.

Note: However, this term is not entirely correct.  French speaking areas of Europe escape that definition.
These areas were never French colonies!

1. DEFINITION OF FRANCOPHONY  refers to Peoples who share the French language, and so,
appreciate a similar culture and they have created an organization (OIT) to defend their common interests

Yet there are differences in accents, local cultures and adaptations of the French culture.

In the United Nations:  40 delegations over 138 use French.
Total almost 100 millions French native speakers in the world,
160  millions people use French as natives or second language users

2. ORIGIN of the presence of the French language in the world is the following:

1-"Natural" geographic presence of the French-speaking areas of Europe
French as a language  developed from the mingling of older languages (Celtic, Latin, Germanic/Frankish).French borders were established in the 17th century under Louis XIV, and are the result of wars and treaties...

2- French adminitrative zones: Overseas Departments and Territories (DOM-TOM).
These areas are overseas and are the legacy of former colonies of France in parts of the world such as the Caribbean,  Canada,  South America and the South Pacific.

DOM: 4 regions of France overseas: Martinique/Guadeloupe/Guyana/Reunion (cf Hawai and the US)

TOM: commonwealth overseas territories within economic and cultural ties with France- though largely independant (cf Puerto Rico and the     US)

3- Countries who were former colonies of France/Belgium, or were at one point or other touched by French culture.
They use French as mother tongue and official language or as co-official language, language of administration.  They chose French as their international language.
They use the French language for diplomatic purposes,  as a language of international exchange and language of cultural expression e.g Vietnam (Film: Indochina*)

 3. Issue of DECOLONIZATION
• A wave of decolonization and independance swept across the world from 1957 on through the 60's and 70's:

Marocco, Tunisia, Algeria...Senegal, Mali, Cameroon, Benin, Togo,...
       (See  Senegalese singer: Youssou N'DOUR)
• Former Belgian colony: Democratic Republic of Congo / Zaire
• Former French colony : Republic of Congo-Brazzaville.
• Ambiguity in the French-speaking world towards French. Sense of independence and cultural belonging.
• Love-hate relationship towards France.

 

4. What countries belong to the Francophony? 55 countries

signed the Chart of the Francophony, indicating their wish to be part of the French-speaking world, including countries

such as Romania, Egypt... (why? cultural preference : French as language of diplomacy)

The OIT (International Organization for the Francophony)and its Agency, the
AIF  the Intergovernmental Agency for the Francophony promote French culture but also support the self-determination of the countries with their own languages and cultures.
• Find out in the article from LABEL FRANCE no 44. :click on Cooperation & International relations (in the margin) : select: "Interview with R. Delhaybe".
• TV5-  French World TV ;
  TV5 was created in 1984. It is an international French-speaking television
  network (on satellite or cable) that is divided into TV5 Europe and TV5 Quebec-Canada. It groups together 5 European French-speaking channels (TF1, France2, France3 for France, RTBF for Belgium and SSR for Switzerland) as well as the television
  consortium of Quebec-Canada. It broadcasts 24 hours a day worldwide
  (according to estimates its viewers represent 135 million households) with the
  mission to develop regional programmes (news form all the different French -speaking countries) to meet the diversified audience's interests.
• The OIT is headed by the Heads of States using French as their main language. These countries send delegates and have a commission (ministere) that deals with issues that affect the French-speaking world.   European issues, in Europe, African issues in Africa etc...

• The French Department of Francophonie Affairs was created in 1974 and put under the direct responsibility of the Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
• High Council for the French language: makes recommendations and oversees the promotion of the French language and culture abroad.
• Under the aegis of France and the President of the Republic
• Its meetings are chaired by the French Prime Minister or the Minister for Culture and the  Minister Delegate for Cooperation and Francophonie. see Alliance Française centers all over the world.eg. Nashville, TN: http://www.afnashville.org
• Directorate General for Development and International Cooperation:
• This action is developed around  the main fields of cooperation(development and technical cooperation, cultural and Francophone cooperation, scientific, academic and research cooperation, audiovisual and communication techniques)
•  a mission for non-governmental cooperation and a mission for multilateral cooperation.
• http://www.ademe.fr/

Note: Some regions consider themselves "occupied by the French":
• Independentist Corsica (French region since 18th C: 1768),
• Brittany (Celtic culture), and  the Basque Country within France (ETA Basque separatist movement)..
• Check the site:http://www.europa.eu.int

II. French culture outside of Europe DOM-TOM

The French -Speaking  i.e.regions of France overseas, outside of  Europe:
• DOM (Departements d'Outremer) are administratively part of  France, the Caribbean (French Guyana, Guadelupe, Martinique). And Islands off the coast of East Africa (e.g  La Reunion).
• TOM (Territoires d'Outremer) have commonwealth relations and obligations but enjoy more independence. Strong sentiment of separatism exists. e.g South Pacific: New Caledonia,Tahiti. In Canada: St Pierre and Miquelon

• French-speaking writers: Ame Cesaire, Edouard Glissant  (Martinique);  Maryse Condé (Guadeloupe):  Caribbean-African- French culture= creole culture.

Film: : Sugar Cane Alley* (by director Euzhan Palcy  1983, Martinique)
 
 
 

• --Quebec: 1967 De Gaulle :"Vive le Quebec libre!".  Identity search , bilingual country:
• --Louisiana and Cajun culture ( traditions of Mardi Gras).
• --French-speaking writers/artists: singers (Celine Dion);
• Film: Jesus of Montreal, Barbarian Invasions

 V. French culture in east and central Africa:
Cameroun, Mali, Senegal, Gabon, Mauritanie, Togo, Benin, Burkina Faso,Centrafrican Republic, Niger, Zaire/ Congo, Rwanda-Burundi, Tchad, Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) ,Gambia,  Guinea
 
French-speaking writers : Senegal former President  Leopold Sedar Senghor : French poet;
Singers-musicians of French expression.: Mali: Amadou Ba; Oumou Sangare;
Senegal: Youssou n'Dour; Baaba Mal
Zaire/Congo: Papa Wemba; Zap Mama.
Film: Chocolat (Cameroun)
 

 VI.  French culture in Asia

Some articles of interest LABEL FRANCE n 30: A Tour of Asia's French-speaking countries/ French culture in Asia

Questionnaire.          
1. Define the concept of "Francophonie" ? How many countries have signed the Francophony Charter?
2.  What is a DOM?  Give one example  of DOM:

3. What is a TOM?   Give one example of TOM:

4. Cite 5  French -speaking countries in  their continents
a . Europe/b. Africa/c. America/d. Asia/e.  Pacific

5 Cite two outstanding personalities of the French-speaking world with their area of activity

6. Is Congo(Zaire) an ex-French or Belgian former colony?

7. What is referred to as Le Maghreb?

8. Switzerland: cite one fact about this country.

9. Select 5  French-speaking countries from the exhibits that interested you &  give 3 facts  for each.

        One  historical/ One regarding the French influence in their cultures/ One about their native cultures.   

10. Jacques Brel was a famous French-speaking Belgian singer/poet.  Should be listed as French writers/artist, or should he be referred to as Belgian?  Give your reasons. 

9.  Louisiana has retained the Napoleonic Code of Law, within the US legal system.. Do you think that  Louisiana (Cajun country) should continue teaching Cajun French in schools ? Give your reasons. 

10. Quebec has a "language police": French signs only.  All English info MUST be translated and French comes first.  Shop keepers get fined if they do not respect this law. This seems like a radical measure. Do you understand  this? Explain.

• Find anwswers on the web site FRANCOPHONYwhat does the International Organization for Francophony (OIT) do for its countries (a few facts)
• Check topic on :"Discovering France" on http://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/

NOTE: in French www.francophonie.org
http://agence.francophonie.org
   http://jeunesse.francophonie.org.

copyright 2007Therese Saint Paul