King Canute sets an example to the French.
Adopting words or phrases from other languages seems a natural process in which neither party to the exchange is harmed.
The government in France would, of course, argue otherwise and say death to ‘La différence’.
For example, the French establishment prefer ‘ordinateur’ to ‘computer and in 2003, it was decreed that ‘courriel’ should be used instead of the English ‘e-mail’.
Now we learn that Facebook and Twitter should not be mentioned by name on radio or TV unless used directly in relation to a news story.
The official reason given is that using these terms constitutes an act of advertising and as such contravenes the 1992 decree which legislates against the promotion of commercial enterprises.
The F-word can no longer be used and Tweeting broadcasters can now only plug their sites only by a broad reference to the social networks.
Personally, I’m not a big fan of either of these new web-based institutions but both have become so ubiquitous that I find it hard to believe that such a ban of referring to them by name is logical or even workable.
I wonder how much this decision by France’s Conseil Supérieur de l’Audiovisuel is motivated by linguistic questions rather than an attack on so-called ‘clandestine advertising’.
Those who approve of the French action are those who are irritated by hearing media folk asking to be ‘liked’ or ‘followed’ on these two infotainment hubs. I have some sympathy for this position but making only a veiled reference to Facebook and Twitter is not going to make them go away. Like it or not they are here to stay.
Frankly, the French policy that is as likely of success as King Canute’s attempt to turn back the ocean’s tide.
