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The Week of French language and Francophonie: the event for those in love with words

11 mars 2022 Langue française

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From March 12 to 20, in France and worldwide, the traditional Week of French Language and Francophonie will be held. This year, the theme is “Ҫa (d)étonne !”, as a motto to be surprised, surprise and have fun. From writing competitions to slam tournaments, quizzes, intergenerational dictations, literary prizes, calligraphy workshops, Francophone concerts and theatrical performances... all these artistic disciplines are available during this Week.

The Week of French language and Francophonie is “the event for those in love with words, in France and abroad” This is how the French Ministry of Culture, main coordinator of the event, describes an initiative born in 1995 that includes the International Francophonie Day, celebrated on 20 March, which was itself created in 1988.

The Francophonie in figures

300 million Francophones in the world;
88 Member States and governments of the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF, International Organisation of La Francophonie);
French language, 5^th most spoken language in the world;
132 million learners of and in French;
55% of people who use French in their daily lives live in sub-Saharan Africa;
in 2050, more than 70% of French speakers will be African;
French is the 4^th most used language on the internet.

Strengthening bridges and expressing diversity

Prepared in particular with the support of the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF, International Organisation of La Francophonie), which is made up of 88 States and governments, the aim of the Week of French Language and Francophonie is to highlight the strong link that unites French speakers, but also to reveal to everyone the richness of their diversity.

Nearly 1,500 events are planned in France, but also in other countries, such as Quebec, Switzerland and Belgium, and in other French-speaking countries (or not) throughout the world.

The OIF provides an interactive map, which is regularly updated, of these events scheduled just about everywhere. Organised by the Alliances françaises and the French Institutes around the world, such events include:

- an online round table from Quebec and Belgium on the place of women in international relations;

- the Marguerite Yourcenar Prize, which will be awarded to the most eloquent French-speaking student among eight finalists;

- the Quiz de la Francophonie to test knowledge in French and learn about the culture of the 88 countries that make up the Francophonie;

- a Prix Goncourt UK, organised in the United Kingdom, where students from 15 British universities make their selection for the UK;

- a creators’ market, in the United Arab Emirates, to meet talented craftsmen and discover the creativity and know-how of the Emirates’ French speakers.

Celebrating Molière and the French language

In France, at a time when celebrating the 400^thanniversary of his birth, the figure of Molière, the great French author of the 17th century “whose plays still stand out almost four centuries after their creation because of their lively rhythm and their lofty words”, is being honoured, as the Ministry of Culture writes.

Among the other events, concerning other cultural fields and organised on this occasion, we should note:

- the Rencontre des Auteurs Francophones & des auteurs du Monde (Interview of French Writers and Authors from all over the World), 15 capsules of mini interviews (eight minutes) with 15 French-speaking authors from around the world, who testify to their astonishing life as writers abroad;

- the operation to raise awareness of the French language, Dis-moi dix mots (Tell me ten words), which offers to play with ten words that illustrate the theme Ça (d)étonne! and to stage them in a playful way and in all forms;

- a postal art competition which consists of decorating an envelope that astonishes, with one or more words from the Dis-moi dix mots operation;

- the francoselfie photo competition, a photo competition for adult migrants learning French, which aims to share the learners’ vision of France and its culture through self-portraits;

- the week of French language in hospitals, participatory performances in hospitals with the Culture and Health label in Île de France on original texts that shed light on the 2022 theme of the French language week.

To know more:

- the Week of French Language and Francophonie

- Events of the Week of the French Language and Francophonie

Photo credit: © Ministry of culture