Language policy in France
France has one official language, the French language. The French government does not regulate the choice of language in publications by individuals, but the use of French is required by law in commercial and workplace communications. In addition to mandating the use of French in the territory of the Republic, the French government tries to promote French in the European Union and globally through institutions such as La Francophonie. The perceived threat from Anglicisation has prompted efforts to safeguard the position of the French language in France.
French / Occitan bilingual signs in Limousin
"Speak French, Be Clean", written on the wall of the Ayguatébia-Talau school
This roadsign in Corsica has had the non-Corsican placenames defaced by FLNC supporters.
The Académie Française, also known as the French Academy, is the principal French council for matters pertaining to the French language. The Académie was officially established in 1635 by Cardinal Richelieu, the chief minister to King Louis XIII. Suppressed in 1793 during the French Revolution, it was restored as a division of the Institut de France in 1803 by Napoleon Bonaparte. It is the oldest of the five académies of the institute. The body has the duty of acting as an official authority on the language; it is tasked with publishing an official dictionary of the language.
Institut de France building
Cardinal Richelieu, responsible for the establishment of the Académie
Raymond Poincaré was one of the five French heads of state who became members of the Académie Française. He is depicted wearing the habit vert, or green habit, of the Académie.
Bernard Dujon and his colleague Eric Westhof, wearing the "Habit vert" of the Institut de France
