French language

7 Stories

Nonbinary Pronoun Causes Uproar in France

First lady has spoken out against 'iel'

(Newser) - A move toward accepting gender-neutral language has, predictably, caused controversy in France, where every noun has a gender and a conservative 386-year-old institute works to keep the language "pure." One of the country's most influential dictionaries is facing a backlash after including the nonbinary pronoun "iel”...

Quebec Tells French Woman She Failed to Prove Ability to Speak French

One chapter of her thesis was in English

(Newser) - Are Quebec's French-language requirements for immigrants too strict? The answer is "oui," according to a French woman whose application was denied because authorities decided she hadn't shown enough proficiency in her native language. Biology graduate Emile Dubois says her application to settle in the Canadian province...

'Absurd' Motion Asks Quebec Shopkeepers to Not Say 'Hi'

Resolution requesting use of 'bonjour' instead of English greeting passed 111-0

(Newser) - Quebec is all about preserving its French heritage. Unlike other provinces of Canada—which recognizes English and French as its official languages—Quebec has a watchdog agency dedicated to that goal, as well as strict laws making French the sole language of government, commerce, the judiciary, and the dominant language...

Without French Teacher, School Uses Rosetta Stone

Parents in Quebec district aren't thrilled

(Newser) - A Quebec mom recently noticed her 11th-grade son hadn't had any French homework lately, and when she asked him what was up, she was more than a little surprised at his reply. "Of course we don't have homework, we don't even have a teacher," Andrew...

France Says 'Non' to 'Hashtag'
 France Says 'Non' to 'Hashtag' 
Jan 31, 2013 10:23 AM CST

France Says 'Non' to 'Hashtag'

But some complain new term 'mot-dièse' not right word

(Newser) - Au revoir, "hashtag." French language cops are striking the English word from their lexicon in favor of the francophone mot-dièse, reports the Local as picked up by Time . The Commission Générale de Terminologie et de Néologie is tasked with preserving the language, and similarly...

Cheeky British Pol: French Language Is Useless

Young people should be learning Chinese

(Newser) - Britain's former minister for Europe Chris Bryant—apparently feeling free to annoy the French now that his Labour party is out of power—described the French language as "useless" in a debate on language education yesterday. Young people, Bryant said, should be steered away from "useless modern foreign...

French Language Cops Go After English Slang

'Le buzz' might be 'le ramdam,' among others

(Newser) - A French panel has made its decision on a handful of English-based buzzwords it hopes to replace. Begone “le buzz” for Internet rumors; enter “le ramdam.” The winners, suggested by students, will be forwarded to the 18—18!—government committees that guard the language. If the...

7 Stories