The French are continuing their long tradition of attempting to stop English words from "infiltrating" their language, and are now focusing specifically on tech vocab. For example, the members of a commission tasked with protecting the French language do not want their compatriots to use the English language term “smartphone.” They want the device to be called le mobile multifonction instead -- or mobile for short. The Commission d'enrichissement de la langue française also has its sights set on a variety of other English terms, proposing French alternatives to"fiber optics" (fibronique), “email” (courrier électronique), and “hashtag” (mot-dièse).
English lingo? Sacre bleu!
- The French were also told that they shouldn't use the word "smart TV.” The preferred term is televiseur connecté.
- Last year, the commission ruled against using English words such as "gamer,” "dark web,” and "fake news." They prefer joueur, internet clandestin, and a completely new term -- infox.
- France’s first official committee to protect the country’s vocabulary was established in 1966.