English language cultural onslaught wears down the French
PARIS — When Japanese students at Ben and Jerry’s — just off the Boulevard St. Germain — order their Vermont Ice Cream in English, when Greek tourists eating at a chic café choose their selections in English, and when Spanish visitors perusing an antique shop make their purchase in English, it appears that the language of Voltaire and Hugo — at least in tourist transactions — plays a second to English.
The French who have famously fought the rising tides of English linguistics and have now merged this valiant struggle with opposing wider globalization (or really Anglo-Saxon/American economic models), seem to have suffered serious setbacks in recent years. It is not that the French language has become weaker, but that English has become stronger.
I’m not speaking about Franglais in which individual English words and phrases have been adapted or adopted by the French; that linguistic windmill was already a national peeve of the late President Charles de Gaulle. No it’s growing global use of English — or perhaps more precisely American.
English as a language has really gained prominence not only through business and science, but has been particularly enhanced and projected by the “force multiplier” of media. Though this has long been the case with films, TV and pop music, it’s the information technology and the Internet which has really expanded English as the global medium. In commerce, there’s no question that English has emerged as the lingua franca of business from Budapest to Beijing.
It’s no less so in entertainment. Stroll along the romantic streets of Paris and be swooned by the dulcet tones of Gangsta Rap or Hard Rock. Mind you these cacophonous assaults on civility and are now as often in French, as in the original Anglais.
Among the plethora of radio stations in Paris, there’s a disturbing majority which seem to have mimicked American style and form, albeit it in French. Contrary to the classy Radio TSF Jazz, France Culture, or some of the genuinely good all news stations, many broadcasters — as in America — seem to confuse noise and decibels with content.
The cinema — a bastion of French culture, has long been under serious assault by America. Despite being highly government subsidized, the industry produces few films which have popular commercial demand and can compete head to head with their Hollywood counterparts. In mid-August among the top ten films in France — seven were American. Mr. and Mrs. Smith, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, the Fantastic Four, and War of the Worlds led the list. Among the grand cinemas of the Montparnasse,
movie selections appear to offer nearly a royal flush by Hollywood. Star Wars has been the top box office hit in the past year. I’m not surprised .
French, the Language of passion, nuance and romance has long been confronted by the more analytical, direct and practical English.
This does not for a moment suggest that French cuisine, the art of the table and the modes of fashion are directly challenged by globalization but here too there’s a cautionary tale whispered in Parisian salons. The aura and quality of deluxe remains unsurpassed and one knows that when one sees it. However many Parisians quietly concede that shorter lunches and dinners lead to less formal food preparation and presentation.
Moreover the perennial fear of French farmers that plentiful and less costly agricultural produce coming from new European Union states in eastern Europe will swamp their markets may soon be realized despite a plethora of protectionist tricks.
In fact the entire cost of production of everything has been hampered by rigid government regulations, a 35 hour work week, and static labor laws. Many in France feel that the real threat from “globalization” does not only concern commerce, but their beloved language as well.
John J. Metzler is a U.N. correspondent covering diplomatic and defense
issues. He writes weekly for World Tribune.com.  |
