French Language and the Francophonie: A Week to Celebrate our "World Language"

March 14 to 22 is the Week of the French Language and the Francophonie. It's one of the first special events of 2020, and marks the 50th anniversary of the International Organization of La Francophonie.

The French language is a "world language", and the fifth most widely spoken. In fact, the French language now unites over 300 million people, connected by special events that give structure to this Francophone group and validate initiatives connected to promoting French around the world. One of these special events, the Week of the French Language and the Francophonie, is organized every year around March 20, which is International Francophonie Day.

GOING WITH THE FLOW

According to the Ministry of Culture, one of its main organizers, the Week of the French Language and the Francophonie is "a date for lovers of words, in France and abroad" that "gives all people a chance to show their love for the French language and celebrate its richness and modernity."

The 2020 celebration focuses on the theme of water, from two broad perspectives explored through multiple events (activities, artistic demonstrations, exhibits, debates, and more). Water as a source of artistic inspiration is the first perspective featured, with projects in the realms of literature, painting, sculpture, architecture, music and film. Water as a shared resource for humanity is the second perspective on the theme, with a focus on exploring the challenges of sustainable development, water access, and management of this vital resource for humanity.

AN INTERNATIONAL PUBLIC SPEAKING CONTEST

As part of the Week of the French Language, the Institut Français has organized  its first International French Public Speaking Contest. In 2019, local speech-making competitions were organized by Institut Français offices and Alliance Françaises locations abroad for the public speaking contest, entitled A mots ouverts. They resulted in the selection of around 20 candidates. The finals will take place on March 17, with eight young French-speakers competing in four debating contests at the Institut de France in Paris. The winner will be chosen by a panel of judges led by Leïla Slimani, Franco-Moroccan journalist and writer.

THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FRANCOPHONIE

All of these individual events have contributed to the 50th anniversary celebration of the Francophonie in 2020. According to the International Organization of La Francophonie, this anniversary is "an opportunity to get back to our roots and the spirit of our founders, but also to look towards the future and imagine the Francophonie of tomorrow."

Events will be held throughout the year, right up to December and the organization of the 18^th Sommet de la Francophonie. It will be held in Tunis, and will be the finale of this anniversary year.

TO FIND OUT MORE:

- about the Week of the French Language and the Francophonie: https://semainelanguefrancaise.culture.gouv.fr/

- about the public speaking contest organized  by the Institut Français: https://www.if.institutfrancais.com/fr/actualite/concours-international-eloquence-en-francais-a-mots-ouverts

- about the 50th anniversary of the Francophonie: https://www.francophonie.org/participez-au-cinquantenaire-de-la-francophonie-905

 © ministère de la Culture/conception graphique : The Shelf Company