The often abusive use of English and a visible deference to American military culture, which is fairly regularly shown by the French military, is a major obstacle to the development of the French language.However, these are symptomatic of a certain envious fascination with that country's military superpower and the internalization of their military, doctrinal and strategic subordination.

In front of an audience of high-ranking French and international personalities, the President of the French Republic recently made a strong statement, implicitly but clearly targeting American culture and language: "Theworld, today, must not be flattened behind a single culture, a single language, a single identity" [1]. 1] Thus, Mr. Nicolas Sarkozy, head of the armies, called to resist American cultural supremacy, the "all-English", and to actively defend our identity.

Yet, in early 2011, in his address to the Army's 2010 War College competition winners, a senior officer, himself using many English terms, stated that the French Army was largely eligible to receive the English Rug Prize [2].

In view of these seemingly paradoxical statements, it seems legitimate to question the central question of language in the military institution and more particularly in the Army. Indeed, one should be aware of what is revealed by the frequency and the constant increase in the borrowing of military language from English.

This question, somewhat iconoclastic but far from idle, is eminently cultural, identity-related and political, and has implications for the evolution as well as the identity of our army. Is it in the interest of the army to speak a Frenglish sabir? What are the tactical and doctrinal consequences of this rapid and perceptible anglicization of language? Finally, what are the symbolic, strategic and political issues at stake?

The often abusive use of English and a visible deference to American military culture, which French military personnel regularly display on a regular basis, is a major obstacle to the development of the French language.The often abusive use of English and a visible deference to American military culture, which the French military quite regularly demonstrate, is symptomatic of a certain envious fascination for the military superpower of that country and the internalization of their military, doctrinal and strategic subordination.

A military "franglais" in very clear progression

As a preamble, it should be made clear that there is no denying the importance of being able to communicate in English with our allies during the multinational operations we conduct. However, the recent and widespread tendency to use Frenglish as a professional jargon deserves to be highlighted as a revealing phenomenon.

First of all, it should be pointed out that French is not always the language used among French people, particularly in operations. In Afghanistan, the Task Force[3] La Fayette (under the command of an American division) writes in English all orders transmitted to its subordinate echelons called Battle Groups[4], and yet they are all French. Returning from Afghanistan in the summer of 2011, a head of the operations and training office recognized, in the tactical domain, "the importance of semantic precision despite the galloping Americanization" and regretted "the loss of this unique semantic precision of the French language" in orders written in English[5]. 5] In fact, the linguistic rupture only occurs at the level of the GTIAs, which write their orders, internally, in French.

Thus, the soldiers show a certain ostentatious eagerness to speak "the international and operational language" that would be par excellence and by definition English. Not only is English used in cases where French would be perfectly sufficient or more appropriate, but it is now militarily correct to use Anglicisms or Anglo-Saxon acronyms in the slightest instance. This is how the French military is convinced that "an ASAP drill, a pertinent manning, adequate inputs, without forgetting an appropriate warm-up, guarantee the success of CAX" [6].

Finally, the Afghan theatre is an abundant source of Anglicisms and Anglo-Saxon acronyms that have literally invaded the language of the French military. Also, a poetic but not so unrealistic anthology could give this: "Although having the lead of the operation and benefiting from EOD, a WIT, even aa STU to counter the IED threat, as well, of course, as the JFAC, CAS and CCA of the Tigers on call but risking ICT with the AAF, we are not immune from KIA and WIA" [7]. The use of English obviously does not bring here any added value, tactical or otherwise.

A French language scratched and competed with English

Moreover, more often than not, acronyms are not even explained in English, let alone translated, because it seems to go without saying that everyone understands the language and Anglo-Saxon acronyms perfectly well, since every soldier "made Afghanistan" (the place to be today tohope to be heard on the military agora). However, the meaning of the latter is far from being well understood by the majority of the military.

So one may wonder why the command is ingeniously naming our operations in Afghanistan with English names such as Blacksmith's Hammer and some of our Battle Groups Raptor, Black Rock or Musketeer ? In multinational operations, we are seeing less visibility and resonance, but also an encouraged erasure and retreat of the French language. Analyzing this phenomenon, linguist Claude Hagège denounces the "renunciation" and "submission to an alleged realism" [8] of our various elites.

Thus, interoperability is too often the pretext for our renunciations and retreats, linguistic among others. "Wemust stop seeing interoperability with the American armed forces, at all levels, in all fields, as a good and an absolute necessity" [9] warns General (2nd) Vincent Desportes. Now, almost always Anglicisms or Americanisms alter and impoverish our language by substitution. English words are thus imported without even a search for translation. We can cite manning, rehearsal or compound, which also gave rise to the barbarism "compoundisation". In this context, some linguists no longer hesitate to speak of English-speaking "linguistic pollution".

An Anglo-American who conveys a specific military culture

Speaking a foreign language is not insignificant. A language is not just a simple communication tool, neutral and interchangeable. Speaking a language means using words expressing feelings, ideals, internalized patterns of thought, notions and concepts specific to that culture. There is therefore an intimate relationship between language and thought. Also, through the French language, the identity, sovereignty and culture of the French people is expressed. Thus, one cannot regularly use a language without being widely imbued with its imagination and culture.

This is why French and American military identities, cultures, both tactical and strategic, are profoundly different. For its part, the Anglo-American is the bearer of a messianic and hegemonic vision, of a strategic tradition based on "... the French language is the bearer of a messianic and hegemonic vision, of a strategic tradition based on "... the French language. thecentral paradigm of destruction" [10] and"technologism" as well as a very capitalist way of waging war. Increasingly, however, "ourown strategic and military thinking and the evolution of our own armies are largely under the influence of the United States, which dominates the 'battle of norms': doctrinal, technological, structural..." [11].

11] Consequently, the very strong penetration of the French language by the Anglo-American logically conveys American military methods and concepts. It is therefore not surprising that at present, as a former American officer working at the American Embassy in Paris recently confided, every effort is being made by the French military to bring their tactical doctrine and strategic thinking closer to that of the United States. Moreover, it is well known that it is very largely the United States that dictates its concepts, doctrine and procedures at NATO. This gives us a better understanding of the limits and dangers of the French military's extensive acculturation to American military thinking.

The seduction and fascination of the American military model

There is clearly a certain fascination, even a certain fascination, for the American military superpower among the French military. This feeling of envy for the dominant American military model can be explained in particular by its colossal human and technological resources, which are completely out of step with ours. Academician Jean Dutourd had already shown that "there is in France a kind ofconsent or adherence" to Americanlinguistic and cultural domination[12]. 12] Thus, any challenge to the omnipresence of English and any resistance to the overwhelming linguistic supremacy of English runs the risk of appearing old-fashioned and chauvinistic, or even (horresco referens!) Americanophobic.

Also, when General de Gaulle imposed that the "No smoking " in the Presidential Caravelle be replaced by a "No smoking", the example was set by the first Frenchman who was perfectly aware of the major stakes in defending our language. In fact, the one who had prevented in extremis, after the Second World War, France from being placed under an American protectorate and thus administered in English[13], and who had created the High Committee for the defence and expansion of the French language[14], considered that the extension of Anglo-American was one of the Trojan horses of the superpower's will to dominate and its strategic visions.

In the war of perceptions and symbols, language is not the least of the stakes. The stakes are sovereignty, symbolism, politics and geopolitics. Indeed, the defence of France on the international stage cannot do without the defence of French on its own soil and of the French-speaking world abroad, the guarantors of our influence and irreplaceable tools of our influence in the world. The vigour of the French language is one of the key elements of our country's "soft power". However, the promotion and preservation of the French language is a matter of little more than indifference. The writer Jean Dutourd no longer hesitated to speak of "collective resignation" [15].

Active defence of our language to promote our military identity

Language is indeed a weapon, as it is a formidable instrument of cultural influence and hegemony. The linguistic field and the semantic field are always a battlefield in the war for meaning that we have to win. That is why the fight for language goes far beyond language. The word "fight" is not exaggerated, since it was used by President Jacques Chirac himself: "France... has long been fighting to assert the presence of French;... in the European Union, in the United Nations, we fight for our language. In the European Union, at the UN, we fight for our language. It is in thenational interest..." [16]. 16] Why not fight for our language within NATO? In this fight, which is the exact opposite of a rearguard action, the military has a role to play. Without falling into linguistic purism, every soldier, "ambassador of the Army and of France" [17], and even more so every officer, has a duty to promote our language and therefore our military specificity, on our soil as well as in external operations.

On the other hand, does the armed-nation bond (rather distended) of which we are proud, come out strengthened when the man-at-arms distances himself a bit more from the other citizens by using a language that is more and more hermetic and "jargonizing"? Does not the armed representative of the nation, the military as a whole, have a role and a responsibility to play in the proper use and defence of the language of his country? Moreover, in the context of the French-speaking world, it would not be the least of our contradictions if we were the least ardent in defending our mother tongue, which we share with millions of speakers, many of whom were forced to speak it during colonisation.

Therefore, we can only suggest common sense in the use of English. It is almost always possible to prefer French expressions and terms to their Anglo-Saxon equivalents. It would also be advisable not only for military literature to systematically translate the Anglo-Saxon terms from which it draws its inspiration, but also for soldiers in positions of responsibility and command to adopt an "offensive practice of their language" [18].

To conclude, it appears that, generally speaking, French soldiers sacrifice too much, sometimes cheerfully and eagerly, to Anglicisation and Franglais. They seem to consent to the expansion of English and the retreat of their own national language. This acceptance seems to be linked to the fairly widespread fascination of the French military with American military power and the internalization of their military, doctrinal and strategic subordination.

In writing this plea for our language, the writer of these lines, who himself acknowledges that he sometimes gives in to some of the quoted biases (so powerful is the conformism and reproduction of habits), is aware that he is only a "vox clamantis in deserto". Nevertheless, he remains convinced that every soldier, and more particularly every officer, must strive to take an active part in the "defence and illustration of the French language" [19] within our army and our society. In these times of crisis and uncertainty, it may be that for the soldier, as for every citizen, as the writer Francis Ponge stated, "the best way toserve the Republic (is) to give strength and hold to the language" [20].

20] Speech delivered at the inauguration of the Maison de la Francophonie in Paris, March 18, 2011.

2] Created in 1999 by four associations for the defense and promotion of the French language. This "civic indignity prize" is awarded annually to an institution or a personality who has particularly distinguished himself or herself by "...its submission" and docility "to promote the domination of the Anglo-American language [...] to the detriment of the French language".

3] Task force.

4] Joint Battle Groups or JBGs.

5] He thus joins Antoine de Rivarol who underlined the clarity and precision of our language. "Of theuniversality of French languagee"Paris, 1784.

6] Free translation: "Training as soon as possible, a proper role allocation, appropriate input data and an appropriate "warm-up" guarantee the success of the computer-assisted exercise.

7] Free translation: "Although having the command of the operation and benefiting from the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Teams, a Weapons Intelligence Team, or even a Search Unit to counter the IED threat, as well as, of course, the controlJoint Forward Air Control, Close Air Support and Helicopter Fire Support by the Tigers on request, but with the risk ofWe are not immune from death and injury in combat," he said.

8] Claude Hagège, " Combat pour le français. Au nom de la diversité des langues et des cultures", Odile Jacob, Paris, 2006.

9] Interview given by General (2nd c) Vincent Desportes, on April 6, 2011, to the political scientist Joseph Henrotin, on the occasion of the publication of his book.The American trap. Why the United States can lose today's wars"Economica, Paris, 2011.

[10] Ibid.

[11] Ibid.

12] Jean Dutourd, "Scandale delavertu" ,Ed. du Fallois, Paris, 1997.

13] Washington had planned to impose a protectorate status on France, governed by an Allied Military Government of Occupied Territories (Amgot) where all sovereignty would have been abolished.

14] Created in 1965.

15 ] Jean Dutourd, op.cit.

16 ] Press conference of President Jacques Chirac in Brussels, at the end of the European Council, March 24, 2006. He went on to state that "to base theworld of tomorrow on a single language and a single culture [...] would be a dramatic regression".

17] Army Soldier's Code.

18] Claude Hagège, op. cit.

19] To take up and pay homage to the Defence and Illustration of the French Language by Joachim de Bellay, written in 1549.

20 ] Francis Ponge, "Pourun Malherbe", Gallimard , 1965.

Saint-cyrien having served in the Armoured Combat Engineers at the 19th RG then at the ^{13th RG}during the ^firstpart of his career, Captain POZZER is currently a trainee at the Cours supérieur d'état-major. He holds a Master 1 in sociology.