The French The French Language: identity, Language: identity,

diversity and diversity and changing changing

environments.environments.Lecture 2 Lecture 2 Michaelmas term 2012Michaelmas term 2012

Personal and group identity: the Personal and group identity: the use of French by immigrantsuse of French by immigrants

Immigration in Immigration in Francophone EuropeFrancophone Europe

A brief history:A brief history: Early years of the C19th:Early years of the C19th: much of much of

the ‘immigrant’ workforce in Paris the ‘immigrant’ workforce in Paris and other urban centres came from and other urban centres came from rural areas of the Hexagon or from rural areas of the Hexagon or from neighbouring parts of Belgium.neighbouring parts of Belgium.

Later years of C19th:Later years of C19th: an influx from an influx from southern and eastern Europe into southern and eastern Europe into France.France.

First generationFirst generation

1950’s and 1960’s: new wave of 1950’s and 1960’s: new wave of immigration from North Africa and immigration from North Africa and Iberian peninsula.Iberian peninsula.

Second generationSecond generation

Born in Europe.Born in Europe. Language and identity: there are Language and identity: there are

striking contrasts between this striking contrasts between this group and their parents. group and their parents.

INSEE statisticsINSEE statistics

(2008) estimated that 11.8 million (2008) estimated that 11.8 million immigrants and their direct immigrants and their direct descendants (second and third descendants (second and third generation) lived in France (19% of generation) lived in France (19% of total population)total population)

About 5.5 million are of European About 5.5 million are of European origin and 4 million of Maghrebi origin and 4 million of Maghrebi origin.origin.

Principal places of origin of Principal places of origin of immigrantsimmigrants

PortugalPortugal ItalyItaly SpainSpain AlgeriaAlgeria MoroccoMorocco TunisiaTunisia TurkeyTurkey Sub-Saharan AfricaSub-Saharan Africa

The first generation of The first generation of immigrantsimmigrants

The first generation:The first generation: Arrived in Europe as adults Arrived in Europe as adults

therefore are far from being native therefore are far from being native francophones. (handout section 1)francophones. (handout section 1)

First generation First generation immigrantsimmigrants

These excerpts are just two from a These excerpts are just two from a range of possible examples.range of possible examples.

The degree of code-switching varies The degree of code-switching varies greatly from one individual to greatly from one individual to another.another.

First generation First generation immigrantsimmigrants

Overall proficiency in French also Overall proficiency in French also varies greatly from one individual to varies greatly from one individual to another.another.

(see section 2, handout)(see section 2, handout)

First generation First generation immigrantsimmigrants

Attitudes and ambitions are also Attitudes and ambitions are also crucial in increasing or inhibiting crucial in increasing or inhibiting motivation for language learning.motivation for language learning.

First generation First generation immigrantsimmigrants

Wide variation in the extent to which Wide variation in the extent to which periodic short visits are made to the periodic short visits are made to the home country (e.g. more to Iberian home country (e.g. more to Iberian peninsular than to North Africa)peninsular than to North Africa)

First generation First generation immigrantsimmigrants

In an attempt to maintain their In an attempt to maintain their ‘difference’, some immigrants may ‘difference’, some immigrants may prefer to use French as little as prefer to use French as little as possible, or deliberately conserve a possible, or deliberately conserve a strong accent.strong accent.

First generation First generation immigrantsimmigrants

Making an appropriate selection from Making an appropriate selection from the various attitudinal and the various attitudinal and environmental factors mentioned so environmental factors mentioned so far, and adding any others that occur far, and adding any others that occur to you, produce your own portrait of:to you, produce your own portrait of: An immigrant who makes average An immigrant who makes average

progress in acquiring proficiency in progress in acquiring proficiency in French.French.

An immigrant whose progress is above An immigrant whose progress is above average.average.

First generation First generation immigrants:immigrants:

informational vs expressive informational vs expressive functionsfunctions Use of French tends to be restricted Use of French tends to be restricted

to the relatively impersonal to the relatively impersonal informational functions (e.g. for informational functions (e.g. for work, social security, shopping etc)work, social security, shopping etc)

Expressive function: native languageExpressive function: native language (See section 3 of handout)(See section 3 of handout)