French Language in Mauritian Newspapers: A Cultural Exception i n Journalism

Abstract

This article comments the cultural exception concerning the medium used for communication by the media especially in newspapers in Mauritius. From a global standpoint, all former colonies of Great Britain have adopted English language as the medium used to communicate to their audiences. The cultural exception exists in Mauritius where despite one and a half century of British rule from 1810 to 1968, French language is consistently being used more nearly two and a half centuries and this trend is not likely to change in the near future. This paper examines why the Mauritian press has been successful in using French language and what are the key factors that have allowed the situation to persist since such a long time. The other aspect of the research briefly addresses the difficulties encountered to make English a medium for communication in the local press and why it remains more an official language than a spoken and currently used language. The use of French language in the Mauritian written press confirms the strength of that particular language by explaining how such cultural exception that prevails in the small island nation of Mauritius.