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31 France: Réunion and Mayotte

  • Gudrun Ledegen
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Manual of Romance Languages in Africa
This chapter is in the book Manual of Romance Languages in Africa

Abstract

This chapter starts by considering the sociolinguistic situation of the two islands of Réunion and Mayotte, detailing first the geographical and social distribution of their languages, as well as the linguistic history of French. It provides information on the cohabitation of French with the other language(s): on the one hand, Reunionese Creole with its great affinity to French, and on the other hand, Shimaore, a Swahili dialect, and Kibushi, a Malagasy dialect. External language policy concerning legislation, public authorities, education, and the media forms the third block of the chapter, the linguistic characteristics of French presented for each island according to the different linguistic domains the fourth block. Finally, the internal linguistic policy is analysed: the reactions of linguistic purism are examined through the descriptions and uses of the variety of French, as attested, for example, in metalinguistic works and literature.

Abstract

This chapter starts by considering the sociolinguistic situation of the two islands of Réunion and Mayotte, detailing first the geographical and social distribution of their languages, as well as the linguistic history of French. It provides information on the cohabitation of French with the other language(s): on the one hand, Reunionese Creole with its great affinity to French, and on the other hand, Shimaore, a Swahili dialect, and Kibushi, a Malagasy dialect. External language policy concerning legislation, public authorities, education, and the media forms the third block of the chapter, the linguistic characteristics of French presented for each island according to the different linguistic domains the fourth block. Finally, the internal linguistic policy is analysed: the reactions of linguistic purism are examined through the descriptions and uses of the variety of French, as attested, for example, in metalinguistic works and literature.

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