Background to French Language Policy and its Impact on the Media

The aim of this article is to present the background and the strategies of French language policy and its impact on the media. The high point to date of language-protectionist efforts, Law 94-668 of August 1994 (loi Toubon), must be seen within the context of a series of developments whose roots hav...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:European journal of communication (London) 1997-12, Vol.12 (4), p.479-509
Main Author: Machill, Marcel
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Communication
Constraints
France
Government Policy
Language
Language planning
Language Policy
Language Usage
Mass Media
Media
Media policy
Policy
Protectionism
Radio
Relationship
Television
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Summary:The aim of this article is to present the background and the strategies of French language policy and its impact on the media. The high point to date of language-protectionist efforts, Law 94-668 of August 1994 (loi Toubon), must be seen within the context of a series of developments whose roots have their origins in a time predating the French Revolution. Today, language policy also interferes with the language used on radio and TV — as per decree, lists of specialist French words designed as a replacement for Anglicisms are drawn up. More far-reaching aims originally intended by the loi Toubon, which were targeted specifically at the media, had to be abandoned after a complaint about infringement of the Constitution. Language policy and media policy are inextricably linked in France. This is also apparent from the political strategies employed to elevate French interests to a European plane. Analysing this process offers a theoretically based insight into French media policy in general.
ISSN:0267-3231
1460-3705
DOI:10.1177/0267323197012004003