What’s a global language? What about French and its position as a world language? Is the position of French as a world language threatened by the linguistic hegemony of English?
In the space of a century, between the first decades of the 20th century and the turn of the 21st century, the redefinition of the balance of power between the world’s leading languages took a new turn. English has grown and become ubiquitous, while French, which was traditionally the language of diplomacy, has been increasingly challenged by the rise of English.
Starting with an analysis of the idea of a global language,and taking a historical view of reflection on linguistic diversity, Françoise Král will discuss the question at the heart of her recent book La Colère des langues. Imaginaires polyglottes à l’ère de la mondialisation (Classiques Garnier, 2024) namely the capacity of French and francophone countries to express a form of linguistic resilience in the face of anglophone hegemony.
The event is free (registration required) and will be bilingual, and accessible to both francophone and anglophone speakers.
Visit the website for more information and to register.