Représentations de la communauté linguistique dans une famille francophone de Suisse romande

Abstract

Representations of speakers cannot be reduced to categories pre-established by the researcher, whether these correspond to the norm, theory or common sens. The representational content is organized and works within the interview. Its analysis can allow us to trace different levels of community integration of the speakers which do not necessarily coincide with geopolitical limits. Thus, while the definition of the French speaking part of Switzerland is necessarily in reference to the Germanic world on the one hand, it also brings into play the whole European French-speaking community, and not only France. In terms of system, the existence of a regional French is valid as a symbol, but the notion does not seem to have real significance. Finally, the linguistic border with the German speaking part of Switzerland is not clear-cut: it seems rather to be characterized by a zone of transition.