Anthropologie de l’anglicisation des formations supérieures et de la recherche

We can react to the Anglicisation of higher education and research in three ways: consider it as positive and adopt a laisser-faire attitude; deplore it and try to reverse the trend; or try to win on all counts, i.e. use English when useful while safeguarding French and other languages. Whatever the choice, we should first gain a clear understanding of the phenomenon. The English language dominates all sectors of public life, in the sciences, in the economy, in modern art, in popular songs and music, even in the graffiti on urban walls. Something is happening under our very noses which cannot be reduced to pro-and con- argumentations. In this paper we shall try to understand the anthropological motivations of Anglicisation and we shall recommend a few possible avenues for action.