The French authorities replaced the key terms of video gaming with French words to maintain the French decorum and to protect them from the “tyranny” of English.
The French language enrichment commission has provided a new translation for English vocab which is used by video gamers. Some important terms for video games are: appariement de joueurs for matching between the players in multiplayer gaming; jeu social en ligne for social games; jeu vidéo de compétition for e-sport; joueur professionnel for pro-gammers; joueur en direct for a steamer.
The translated terms were published in the Journal Officiel de la République Française of France, which is similar to the Gazette of India. The French journal is only binding on government employees, which means the citizens can use the term they like.
In France, the French language enrichment commission has the role of creating new terms and expressions to fill the gaps in vocabulary and designating in French the concepts and realities that appear under foreign names.
The French cultural ministry told AFP that the video game sector was stormed with anglicism that could act as a “barrier for understanding” for non-gamers.
The Académie Française, a principal body on matters related to the French language, has also published an advisory regularly since it was established in the 15th century. The Academy in February also said that “degradation must not be seen as inevitable.” The academy has 35 members currently, and it is some sort of elite group. They have an official uniform and a sword.
French society is very possessive of the French language, and it’s always in political discourse. In 2019, an open letter was written by 100 signatories that urged French President Emmanuel Macron to protect the French language in France and other Francophone countries.
During the election period, then Education Minister Michael Blanquer said on inclusiveness in the French language that “inclusive writing is not the future of the French language,” as French is a highly gender-based language.
The commission had also released 18 tech-related words for replacing English jargons in 2017, including Piège à clics for clickbait Infox vidéo or vidéotox for deep fake and fake video, and Audio à la demand for the podcast.
Published By: Sandipan Dutta
