Table of Contents

Part I Insecurity: territorial insecurity - fear of the regional languages; fear mixed with pride - the myth of the hexagon; social insecurity - fear of the social outsider; fear mixed with guilt - the myth of inclusion; cultural insecurity - Americanophobia. Part II Identity: identity and the status of French - the langauge of the Republic; managing French to server the state - stability, elasticity and polyvalency. Part III Image: influence and prestige "Francophonie", cultural relations and the French language abroad; multilingualism - a policy for openess and diversity?

About the Author

Dennis Ager is Professor of Modern Languages in the School of Languages and European Studies at Aston University. He is interested in the mutual effect of language and societies, particularly French society. This interest is reflected in work both on the nature of society, particularly on the characteristics of state-minority relations, and on the nature of language, with particular interest in language variety. His most recent books are Francophonie in the 1990s. Problems and Opportunities (Multilingual Matters, 1996), Language Policy in Britain and France: the Processes of Policy (Cassell, 1996) and Language, Community and the State (Intellect, 1997).