7.1 Language Ideologies and Language Criticism in French

Abstract

In France, the term language ideology generally has a negative connotation. One of the most prominent language ideological debates, which has also received an analogous level of public attention, surrounds the issue of the language standard. Within this debate, it is not rare for other languages and other variants of the French language (often collectively described quite non-specifically with the term patois) to be disparaged. Along with this emphasis on the language standard, language ideological discussions and discourses address aspects anchored in the imaginaire of many speakers, including the notion of the unique clarity of the French language. However, in the spirit of language purism, language ideological discussions, in which the Académie française continues to be involved to a certain extent, also include the rejection of borrowed words, particularly Anglicisms. Presently, the issue of écriture inclusive (‘inclusive written language’) is also being debated in terms of language ideology. Arguments citing potential confusion, illegibility, or possible difficulties in pronunciation play a major role in the assessment or rejection of inclusive writing. Within numerous language ideological debates, demands are being voiced for an authoritative decision on the part of the Académie française.