An increasing number of English words are penetrating many languages as the influence of American culture spreads. This article discusses the considerable efforts of the French government to preserve the “purity” of the French language and english to french by banning the use of the so-called “French”.
Many languages are now faced with the problem of a large dominance of English words. However, it is not always possible to deal with this. However, it is the French purists who make the most effort in this direction. Much attention is paid to this aspect by many of the best French courses in Minsk and other cities, trying not to use Americanisms in the classroom, but only purely native French words.
French government measures against English words in their language
Hopeful French actors may be horrified to learn that they will no longer be able to appear on “le casting” in search of acting work. After all, this word and 126 other popular English expressions used in film, television and advertising were banned by Georges Filliou, the Minister of Communications and Mass Communications, during the years-long war with the French language.
Within six months of the official publication of a list of 127 French replacement terms for English words and english to french, public institutions, but not newspapers and magazines, faced legal sanctions if they used words like “drive-in cinema” instead of “cineparc” or “casting” instead of distribution artist.
Such legal sanctions could include fines of up to 50 francs ($7) for each banned word multiplied by the number of sheets where it is used, or sanctions such as government withdrawals of products from the market if user instructions contain banned words.
The use of “French” was first legally sanctioned in 1977 when the government decided to purge French of English words by forcing manufacturers to publish all advertising warranties and instrument manuals, bills and receipts in pure French.
Perhaps the most bizarre case, however, occurred in 1980, when the government sued Seita tobacco, a French state-owned company, for launching a new brand of cigarette called News.
The French language is really beautiful in itself, and it would be a pity if it lost its attractiveness when diluted with English vocabulary.