Abstract
NOUS ON THE RIGHT Nous (we/us), which has a high frequency of occurrence in the corpus of right-wing press editorials (7 samples from 1973 to 1982), is often found, in terms of its presence and absence, in relation to on. Their copresence is contradictory : in general, when on precedes nous in the same chain of significance, it suggests that they are enemies (the « other » is the first to attack) ; when nous precedes on (there are very few examples) there is an homologous relationship between the two (on is a minor dimension of nous). Most frequently on, used either as a substitute or without definition, characterizes the others, the adversary. Nous is part of a more complex reference system. The analysis of the editorials leads to distinguish a nous as signatory (singular and in the same time collective and performative), a nous as French people, and a universal nous. Our grid is therefore very fluid. On their periphery there are others nous that are more difficult to pinpoint. The pronoun shifts, changes direction, is superimposed on itself while changing his circle of reference, as if to encompass the reader in an endless play of differences.