Makes accessible to English speakers the current status of the development and distribution of the French language, the international movement for using it through nearly 50 countries and regions, and the cultural and political values it offers to the rest of the world. Outlines the development and distribution of Francophonie; problems of culture and identity, the last colonies, economics and organization; and prospects in Africa, Asia and the Pacific, and Europe. For North Americans, places the otherwise sometimes perplexing concerns of Quebec into a historical and international perspective. Annotation copyright by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

This book provides a comprehensive introduction to the French language from the perspective of modern linguistics. Features include a further reading guide at the end of each chapter, a glossary of linguistic terms, a bibliography and index.

Drawing together contributions from academics based in Africa and its diaspora, this work is unique in considering the situation and status of Africans globally. It explores a broad range of contemporary issues - from development and culture to linguistics - within the socio-political framework of Africa in the 21st century.

This book examines language choice in contemporary Cambodia. It uses the spread of English, and French attempts at thwarting it in favor of their own language, to study and evaluate competing explanations for the spread of English globally. The book focuses on language choice and policy, and will appeal to scholars in comparative education where language and language policy studies represent a growing area of research interest.

Written by a senior Indian diplomat who has until recently also served as Commonwealth Deputy Secretary-General, this book provides a unique and far-reaching exploration of the British Commonwealth, and its impact since the second World War on the process of Britain adjusting to a world without Empire. Whither the Commonwealth now? What is its record of achievement; what are the benefits of membership to countries in terms of collective political influence, trade, investment, aid, travel and education? Can any practical good be envisaged for this nearly moribund post-colonial organization? Britain, which brought the association into being and is central to it, would have to play a key part in determining its future. But in coming to such decisions, the British Government faces great problems of perception, both from the Monarchy and the British public.

This book deals with the ways in which French is used in different circumstances and settings in France and abroad, with the language attitudes of French speakers and with language policy. It is concerned to examine not only the linguistic data, but also the social, political and economic environment in which contemporary French is used. At the same time it offers an introduction to contemporary sociolinguistic theory, methods and results. After a brief historical introduction and a review of approaches to regionalism, Professor Ager looks at such questions as the conflicts between standard French and regional languages such as Breton, the changing role of French in the world; the distinctiveness of social and professional varieties such as the language of the working class, scientists or immigrants and language variation correlating with interactional factors such as formality or medium. A final chapter deals with language attitude, language policy and language planning. This volume sets language information in its social context and shows how to investigate and evaluate both language variation and the social and political reaction to it.

"This volume consists of selected papers from a conference organised under the aegis of the Association for the Study of Modern and Contemporary France at the University of Leicester in September 2000"--P. [9].