Abstract
CONCERNING THE POLITICS OF LANGUAGE AND IDEOLOGY By using certain official texts this article attempts to define the characteristic elements of the linguistic policy established by the public Powers in the years since 1960, to cope with problems resulting from the development of French language. Between the years 1960 and 1965 the first reactions against anglicisms came from the purists but these reactions were based on a dynamic conception, on the idea that language must be adapted to changes in the world. In 1966 General de Gaulle and G. Pompidou began to develop a polycy based on the concept of «francophonie ». According to them this policy is founded on the solidarity between nations joined together by the french language and culture, but according to others it is a new form of cultural imperialism. The « Haut Comité pour la défense et l'expansion de la langue française » (established in 1966) which in 1973 will become the « Haut Comité de la langue française », applies an authoritative policy with the idea that the French language has a universal cultural value. But some changes of idea will act on the linguistic policies of official organisations and bring about a change in authoritative directions in order to give place to a new theme, that of the diversity of languages and cultures. Since 1980 the themes of cultural identity, diversity and interdependance of cultures, plurilinguism and the promotion of French as a scientific language, have frequently appeared. In his conclusion M.C. puts forwards the problems of language planning which, according to him, ought to be the concern of public Powers and of specialists informed by linguists.