Francophone Research Articles

Systems of Classification and Categorization as Revealing Tensions Within Knowledge

Knowl­edge organization systems are likely to reveal disagreements and controversies in the construction of knowl­edge. This article looks at the social tensions reflected in the use of terms such as "race" or typical expressions like "woke" or "cancel culture". It compares the use of these terms in the French-speaking world between Wiki-pedia and the Rameau subject headings. It first examines the operational functioning of Rameau's indexing language for libraries, then that of the French Wikipedia's categorization system, and finally explores their differences and similarities in the use of the terms presented.

Precision nutrition for type 2 diabetes in Benin: leveraging linear goal programming to optimize diets with emphasis on adequacy, affordability, accessibility, and culture.

Nutrition and diet are critical to managing Type 2 diabetes (T2D). Low-income households often face challenges maintaining a healthy and balanced diet due to food insecurity, availability, and cost. To address this issue, we used a linear goal programming (LGP) model to develop nutritionally adequate, affordable, accessible, and culturally acceptable diets for persons with T2D in Benin, a French-speaking sub-Saharan country. The goal was to help persons with T2D manage their condition more effectively. We compiled a robust list of local commonly consumed foods in Benin, and calculated their nutritional value using West African food composition tables and food costs per serving from a market survey. Using mathematical optimization techniques, we designed dietary plans that meet the daily nutrient intake recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) to prevent chronic diseases in normal adults. While adhering to dietary constraints of T2D, we developed optimized diet plans with varying energy levels that meet all nutrient requirements while considering availability, acceptability, and budgetary constraints. Fifty-two food items and recipes were evaluated to create six low-cost daily menus. Menu 1 was the most affordable at CFA 1,127 (USD 1.88), providing 1890 kcal of energy, while Menu 6 was the most expensive at CFA 1,227 (USD 2.05), providing 1749 kcal. All the menus met the daily WHO minimum requirements for carbohydrates, fat, cholesterol, and fiber content, while other nutrients such as protein, vitamin C, and iron reached the upper limits of the acceptable value range. Linear goal programming can be an effective tool in helping to obtain optimized adequate, accessible, and culturally acceptable diets at minimal cost by interpreting and translating dietary recommendations into a nutritional model, based on local market prices.

Language of instruction and learning achievements inequalities in francophone Sub-Saharan Africa: A residualized quantile regression analysis using PASEC data

In multilingual settings, selecting a medium of instruction (MoI) has been widely debated. While proponents advocate for using the official MoI, others support using the mother tongue or adopting bilingual/multilingual MoI. Despite the potential for each MoI model to contribute to learning inequalities among students, there needs to be more evidence regarding the specific categories of students and contextual factors involved. This study focuses on fourteen French-speaking Sub-Saharan African countries (Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Chad, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Guinea, Madagascar, Niger, Senegal, and Togo) to investigate disparities in learning outcomes between students exposed to the official MoI and those exposed to a bilingual/multilingual MoI. Leveraging data from PASEC 2019, the study employs Residualized Quantile Regression (RQR) as its analytical method. The findings indicate that each MoI model may result in learning outcome disparities, with the extent of inequality varying according to students' performance levels (low, average, or high achievers). Additionally, these disparities are influenced by factors such as the student's urban or rural residence and the specific characteristics of the educational system in place. These findings underscore the importance of developing language-in-education policies that consider students' characteristics (e.g., ability) and contextual factors.

Regulation and practice of clinical trials of herbal medicines in French-speaking West African countries (WAEMU): current status and challenges

Regulation and practice of clinical trials of herbal medicines in French-speaking West African countries (WAEMU): current status and challenges

A Comparative Study on Students Immersion Programme: A Case of the Nigerian French Language Village and Institut Universitaire Panafricain (IUP) Porto-Novo, Benin Republic

This study addresses the effectiveness and impact of immersion programmes at two distinct French Language Institutions: the NFLV in Badagry, Lagos Nigeria and the IUP in Porto Novo, Benin Republic. The problem under investigation is the comparative effectiveness of the immersion programme offered by NFLV and IUP. Specifically, the study identified and evaluated differences in programme design, pedagogical strategies, students’ outcomes, and the level of availability of human and material resources between these two Institutions. The study used cluster sampling design to select 100 students who served as participants for the study. Descriptive survey design was adopted and a wellstructured questionnaire was the main instrument used for collecting data in the course of the study. The data collected was analysed using simple percentages, mean/standard deviation descriptive statistical tools and independent t-test for significance difference between two means was equally tested. The result showed that the Human and Material resources for immersion programmes in the NFLV and IUP is moderate. This is because of the grand mean scores of 2.96 and 3.14 are within the mean range interpretation of moderate high and are above the criterion mean of 2.50 for a four point likert scale rating. Although, better in IUP Porto Novo, since the grand mean of 3.14 is greater than 2.96 which represents NFLV. The programme design, pedagogical strategies, students’ outcomes were found to be better in IUP since their environment is a naturally francophone country, which provides a more immersive linguistic experience. Independent t-test for difference between means led to upholding of the null hypothesis that there is no significant difference between the effectiveness of NFLV and IUP centres for immersion programme. The study recommended inter alia that; leveraging on technology can enhance language learning. The NFLV should invest in digital resources such as language learning apps, virtual reality experiences, and online French speaking forum to complement traditional teaching methods.

The development of intercultural competence in teaching French as a Foreign Language through cinema

Integrating cinema into the teaching of French as a Foreign Language (FFL) offers a unique opportunity to develop learners' intercultural competence by immersing them in the cultural diversity of the Francophone world. This article explores how cinema can promote intercultural understanding by exposing learners to a variety of cultural perspectives. It emphasizes the importance of film studies, or filmology, in education, and highlights efforts to integrate image and film analysis into educational programs, despite some persistent obstacles.

The role of L2 input in developing a novel L2 contrast phonetically and phonologically: Production evidence from a residence abroad context

This study analyses the production of French /y/ and /u/ by 42 native English learners of French (ELoF) at the start and end of a Residence Abroad (RA) in a French-speaking country. As an approximation of both phonological and phonetic development, categorical change is teased apart from gradient change using k-medoid clustering of acoustic data and different input measures are tested as predictors of both types of development. Results of the phonological analysis reveal that while no change occurs for /y/, the proportion that learners correctly use their back vowel in /u/ contexts increases over the RA. The quantity of French input declared over the RA is a significant predictor of this categorical change, especially the amount of auditory and visual engagement (e.g. listening and reading in French). Results of the phonetic analysis indicate, instead, that /y/ becomes more target-like over the RA, while /u/ makes less progress, suggesting a partial mismatch between the phonological and phonetic levels. Nevertheless, the phonetic development of /u/ is more substantial for individuals who: (1) have been learning French longer, (2) have yet to experience naturalistic exposure by the start of the RA, and (3) are English language teachers over the RA rather than students at a foreign institution. Taken together, these results have implications for the link between second language (L2) input and L2 production, the assumptions of L2 speech models, and the relationship between different levels of linguistic representation in L2 speech learning.

Christine and the Queens, Chris, Redcar, and navigating gender identity

Gender identity expression continues to be the subject of public discourse. In the past few decades, scholars and members of the general public have questioned the idea of a stable and binary gender identity, which has caused debates in both the anglophone and francophone worlds. Redcar, also known as Christine and the Queens, as well as Chris, is a particularly interesting public figure concerning gender identity and expression because his relationship has evolved throughout his career. The artist has been remarkably open about his relationship with gender throughout the last decade, which has been in the public eye. Redcar is also someone who has found himself between the anglophone and francophone worlds – he expresses a cultural identity that is neither altogether French nor anglophone, but hybrid. As a musician whose journey with gender has been more or less public, it raises the question: How does Redcar use his music, videos, and persona to navigate and express his evolving relationship with gender? Through the use of gender and queer theories, this article demonstrates how Redcar has used these elements to examine and redefine his own gender. This essay will look specifically at the construction of his celebrity persona, followed by a lyrical analysis of the song “iT” from his first album Chaleur humaine (2014) and a scenic analysis from the music video for “5 dols/5 dollars” from his second album Chris (2018) to demonstrate how Redcar’s public experience of gender exploration works to deconstruct the idea of a static gender and instead demonstrates how gender is always in a process of renegotiation.

A Mutual Dependency: Postcolonial Relations between the French Athletics Federation and French-Speaking African Athletics Federations (1956–1969)

While scholars of postcolonial Franco-African relations in the field of sport regularly examine football, they have paid little attention to athletics (track and field). Yet French athletics remains closely linked to the African countries that emerged from France’s former colonies, offering financial, material and human resources to develop the sport. This connection has led some of the best African athletes to represent French clubs or even to opt for French nationality. A variety of postcolonial processes were at work in the relationship between the French Athletics Federation (FFA) and the athletics federations of French-speaking African countries that emerged after independence. The time period studied begins when the North African states under French domination gained independence in 1956 and ends in 1969, before these relations were redefined around Francophonie (the community of countries that use the French language) and took on new forms. The corpus studied included specialist press archives and reports from French and international athletics federations. The results distinguish two periods since 1956. The first reveals a loose relationship of mutual dependence: the FFA needed colonial athletes following independence, and the new African federations needed the FFA in order to develop. In the second period, from 1963 onwards, this mutual dependence became institutionalized by a more official cooperation policy supported by the French government, in which the organizations involved each had an interest. This relationship would characterize relations between the FFA and the athletics federations of French-speaking African countries in the postcolonial period.

State of the Art of Probiotic Use in Neonatal Intensive Care Units in French-Speaking European Countries.

The effectiveness of probiotics in reducing the incidence of necrotizing enterocolitis has been supported by a very large number of studies. However, the utilization of probiotics in preterm infants remains a topic of debate. This study aims to assess the rate of probiotic use in European neonatal intensive care units (NICUs), compare administration protocols, and identify barriers and concerns associated with probiotic use. An online questionnaire was distributed via email to European NICUs between October 2020 and June 2021. Different questions related to the frequency of probiotic use were proposed. Data on probiotic administration protocols and reasons for non-utilization were collected. The majority of responses were from France and Switzerland, with response rates of 85% and 89%, respectively. A total of 21% of French NICUs and 100% of Swiss NICUs reported routine probiotic use. There was significant heterogeneity in probiotic administration protocols, including variations in probiotic strains, administration, and treatment duration. The main obstacles to routine probiotic use were the absence of recommendations, lack of consensus on strain selection, insufficient scientific evidence, and concerns regarding potential adverse effects. The rate of routine probiotic administration remains low in European NICUs, with heterogeneity among protocols. Further trials are necessary to elucidate optimal treatment modalities and ensure safety of administration.

Availability and Cost of Basic Drugs for Sickle Cell Disease in 13 African Countries

Background Sub-Saharan African countries are the hardest hit by sickle cell disease (SCD). Several studies have demonstrated the remarkable efficacy of hydroxyurea (HU) in African sickle-cell populations. As a result, many specialists recommend widespread use of this drug in Africa to reduce the disease's high morbidity/mortality. Nevertheless, in those countries health insurance mechanisms do not exist or and many families affected by SCD do not have enough income to pay for the care. In addition to cost, frequent supply chain disruptions lead to low drugs availability. The cost of basic treatments for SCD and their actual availability in different African countries is not yet known. Yet this information is essential for guiding health policies or the action of non-governmental organizations, and for planning the cost of assistance that could be provided to these patients. The aim of this study was to determine the availability, frequency of supply disruptions and cost of basic treatments for SCDin sub-Saharan African countries. Methods A cross-sectional online international survey was carried out from 24 March to 08 May 2023 among health professionals from French-speaking sub-Saharan African countries following SCD patients and registered in the database of the non-governmental organisation (NGO) Drep-Afrique. Participants completed questions covering the availability (on a scale from 0 (drug not available) to 10 (no availability concern) and the cost of basic drugs in their centres: HU, penicillin V, folic acid, morphine and vaccines. Results 120 health professionals, mainly physicians (91%), from 13 French-speaking Sub-Saharan African countries took part in this study. 58% of the participants worked in SCD referral centres and 36% in university hospitals. 91,000 homozygous SCD patients were reported as being followed in their centres. The median availability score for hydroxyurea and morphine were respectively 5 (IQR 3-8) and 5 (IQR 2-7), compared with 10 (IQR 10-10) for folic acid, 8 (IQR 4-10) for penicillin V, 3 (IQR 1-8) for anti-pneumococcal and 5 (IQR 2-8) for anti-meningococcal vaccines. Frequent supply chain disruptions were declared: 78% for HU, 77% for anti-pneumococcal vaccine, 66% for morphine, 45 % for Penicillin V, while they were rare for folic acid (8%). The median price of HU for one month's treatment of a 30 kg child (mean dose 20 mg/kg/day) was $19.3 (IQR 13.5- 25.3) and varied greatly from country to country (from $38 in Guinea to $10.1 in Togo (p=0.0002) (figure 1). The median price of pneumococcal vaccine was $35.3 (IQR 16.9- 58.7), and thant of meningococcal vaccine $31.4 (IQR 11- 57.5), also with significant differences between countries. The cost of pneumococcal vaccine was 1.6 times higher in centres where the supply chain disrupted than when there is no disruption (p=0.02). Conclusion This study shows that the cost of HU varies from one country to another in French-speaking Africa. Although not very high, it remains unaffordable for the most patients' families. For example, in 2023, the median monthly salary is 238 $ in the Democratic Republic of Congo (the country with the highest prevalence of SCD in the world with Nigeria), compared with a median monthly cost of HU of 25 $ in this country for a child in our study. The high cost of vaccines, beyond the first years of life when a free national program is available in most of African countries, is also a problem. In addition to cost, availability and frequent supply disruptions prevent regular intake of hydroxyurea and, to a lesser extent, of penicillin V. International solidarity and the governments of these countries should work to bring down the cost of hydroxyurea and improve the distribution circuit for these essential medicines.

“Eat Me! Eat Me! tounsi”: English in Tunisian linguistic landscapes beyond the official policy legislations

Aims and objectives: This paper investigates the diffusion of English into the linguistic ecologies of Tunisia, an Expanding Outer Circle society in North Africa. It analyzes the language practices of Tunisian business operators in five commercial localities in metropolitan Tunis. The paper focuses, in particular, on the uses of English and its interaction with Tunisia’s dominant languages, the ways the resources of English are locally understood and deployed and the intersection of the emerging “language regime” (Kroskrity, 2000) with the official linguistic landscapes policies and the wider sociohistorical, political, and economic conditions of the country. Methodology and data: Detailed discourse-ethnographic analysis of 363 linguistic landscape signs collected from 5 commercial districts in metropolitan Tunis. Findings and conclusions: The findings indicated the emergence of a bottom-up English-led public signage communicating a global corporate ideology circumventing the official language policies mandating the use and visibility of Modern Standard Arabic in public signage. However, this English-led public posting is intertwined in complex ways with Tunisia’s dominant languages, resulting in translanguaging, linguistic puns, the commodification of vernacular forms of communication as well as (supra)national and aesthetic identity markers. Originality: Tunisia, a traditionally constructed Francophone country moving toward English, is very little explored in the major Global English(es) paradigms. The paper focuses on the possible ideological, economic, and cultural changes engendered by English and connects these changes to the global socioeconomic, political, and cultural transformations undergone by the country over the last decades.

Benefits and geography of international collaboration for PhD students in biology from four global south countries

Collaboration is a fundamental aspect of scientific research and innovation. Fair collaborations between scientists from different identities or positions of power (e.g., Global North and Global South scientists) could have a great impact on scientific knowledge and exchange. However, there are existing limitations to the potential of Global South scientists to collaborate fairly. Here we assess the impact and geographic distribution of international collaborations for PhD students in biological sciences in four Global South countries (two from Africa: Algeria and Morocco, and two from the Americas: Colombia and Mexico), where students typically have low English proficiency. We show that overall international collaboration, particularly with the Global North, increased the probability of publishing in a journal with an impact factor and achieved more citations. Most international collaborators were affiliated with French-speaking countries for Algerian and Moroccan students and Spanish and English-speaking countries for Colombian and Mexican universities, suggesting that language and geopolitical history might play a role in shaping the selection of international collaborators. While the results highlight the benefit of international collaboration for researchers in the Global South, we discuss that the current metrics of scientific success could maintain the dependence of Global South scientists on the Global North.

Code Switching as a Teaching and Learning Strategy: Opinions and Perceptions of University-Level Students of French as a Foreign Language (FFL) in Ghana

The ongoing debate on code switching (CS) in multilingual societies and Foreign Language (FL) classes is still relevant and worth considering. This linguistic phenomenon simply refers to altering from one language to another during speech and writing (Richards and Schmidt 2013). While some authorities propose that interactions between learners and instructors in the FL class be carried out only in the target language, other opinions favour a careful blend of both target and source languages. Ghana, a multilingual country in West Africa, adopted English as its official language during the colonial era. French was later introduced to promote regional integration among Ghana and her neighbours, especially since Ghana is greatly surrounded by francophone countries within the subregion (Gandolfi et al. 2021). French has since then been the second most widely taught FL in the country, with a presence in almost all stages of the Ghanaian academic trajectory. This multilingual position of Ghana makes it common to find elements of CS present in FL classrooms, where both instructors and learners occasionally resort to English for instructional conversations (Chachu 2016). This study focuses on university students’ perceptions of CS between English as the source language and French as a foreign language (FFL) during the instruction of the latter. Some frameworks for teaching and learning FFL in Ghana prefer that the language of instruction and interaction be limited to the target language only (Soku and Azanku 2015). The Common European Framework of References for Languages (CEFR) however, suggests the possible use of CS for purposes of instruction when there are favourable conditions (Council of Europe 2001). To identify the roles of CS and investigate FL students’ opinions on this, our data was gathered from classroom observations and questionnaires that had both Likert scale and open-ended questions. This was at the end of their first semester of studying university-level FFL. It was observed that CS plays a significant role in the understanding of linguistic concepts and greatly improves students’ engagement and participation in the FL class. Of the 36 respondents, 34 felt their academic needs were met when the language of instruction and interaction alternated between French and English. Twenty-nine students reported losing focus easily in the FFL class in instances where the medium of interaction was limited to French alone, while 26 reported feeling nervous whenever they were asked to only communicate in French. For metalinguistic aspects of the language, 33 students, constituting 91.7% were of the view that a careful blend of English and French could go a long way to aid their understanding and foster the learning of grammatical concepts. Generally, students attested to better retention of vocabulary in the target language when there was a good blend of both languages. It is recommended therefore that language instructors resort periodically to CS to ensure understanding and engagement from students. CS also helps learners have the opportunity to intervene with their limited linguistic structures when they are faced with linguistic challenges in the FL classroom. Click here to read the corresponding ISSOTL blog post.

Impact of air pollution on mortality: geo-epidemiological study in French-speaking Africa

Abstract According to the WHO, air pollution is responsible for 90% of deaths in Africa. However, few data on exposure to air pollution is available, and studies are rare, particularly in French-speaking Africa. This study aims to investigate the impact of air pollution on mortality in 13 French-speaking African countries (Algeria, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Guinea, Madagascar, Mali, Morocco, Democratic Republic of Congo, Senegal, Tunisia). Using data from the IHME, annual concentrations of the PM2.5 pollutant from different cities were integrated into a spatial interpolation model (IDW) at the scale of each country. The interpolation was validated using cross-validation models. For each of the considered cardiorespiratory diseases (LRI, stroke, COPD, IHD), the attributable mortality fraction was estimated using literature data and population exposure calculated using demographic data from each country. Large variations in concentration between the 13 countries are observed, with concentrations ranging from 1.76µg/m3 in Morocco to 67.03µg/m3 in Benin. Concentrations are higher in West Africa than in Central or North Africa. In 2019, 291,417 deaths attributable to air pollution were recorded in the 13 countries: 19.7% for ischemic heart disease, 6.5% for lower respiratory infections, 3.6% for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and 18.8% for stroke. Our model allowed us to obtain a spatial distribution and the number of deaths related to air pollution. However, the health impact of pollution could be improved by more systematic and comprehensive data collection through a system for monitoring concentrations of atmospheric pollutants. Key messages • This study estimates the number of deaths attributable to air pollution in 13 French-speaking African countries using a spatial interpolation model. • This study highlights the need for more data on air pollution exposure in French-speaking Africa.

Presidential Activism in Sub-Saharan Africa: Explaining Variation Among Semi-Presidential Countries

This article seeks to explain variations in presidential activism in semi-presidential countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. Africa is one of the continents where semi-presidentialism is most prevalent, but the dynamics of intra-executive relations are severely understudied. The four case studies discussed here—the Democratic Republic of Congo, Niger, Cabo Verde, and São Tomé e Príncipe—belong to the premier-presidential subtype. In this exploratory study, we aim to examine how institutional dimensions of premier-presidentialism interact with contextual factors to explain variations in presidential activism among Sub-Saharan African countries. In addition to fundamental contextual differences among the two pairs of countries, francophone and lusophone, there are specific institutional factors associated with the design and operation of premier-presidentialism that contribute to greater presidential activism in the two francophone cases. Taken together, these contextual and institutional factors skew effective executive power heavily toward the president in our francophone countries. We also find that the degree of political institutionalization matters for the impact of presidential activism on intra-executive conflict and government policymaking capacity. The article increases our understanding of the operation of semi-presidentialism in this understudied region, underscoring the importance of both contextual and constitutional factors for explaining variations in presidential activism in Africa.

Presidential Extensions in Africa 1960 to 2022: Impact on Politics, Peace, and Security

There have been 35 presidential extensions across 24 countries in Africa from 1960 to 2022, done through four categories of extension mechanisms. Most extensions occur in francophone countries, where heads-of-state govern for up to four decades and beyond, propped up by French foreign policy pacts or bilateral defense agreements which station French bases that ward of insurrections against perennial presidents. This has gestated political discontent and festered conflicts in francophone territory, to the point of being conflict-prone and terrorist enclaves. In the process, francophone Africa has attracted US drone bases for supposed counterterrorism, while Wagner mercenaries have taken up roles in countries where French Legions failed and departed. As a result, African countries have become willing or unwilling actors in the foreign policy agendas of the French, Americans, and Russians whose legions they host. Meanwhile, the African Union has the institutional frameworks to address the phenomenon of presidential extensions, but the political will is not forthcoming because the AU Assembly itself consists of several incorrigible presidents who are governing in extensions and do not want change.

The Congolese Government and its Performance in Cultural and Political Matters: 1960-2021, Assessment and Perspectives

The sixties were marked by independence in Africa. During this period, several events took place. The original institutions have been confirmed. A French-speaking space was created: the Agency for Cultural and Technical Cooperation, which later became the IOF. The latter is nowadays equipped with several structures of which the Congo has been a member since 1981. This gathering of French-speaking countries on a cultural basis has imposed the establishment of a rule of law in the various member countries. In its space, the OIF promotes the values of democracy, human rights and sustainable development. Political and cultural issues have been major concerns within the OIF. The qualitative and quantitative transformation of human resources remains essential to the development of the country. Concerning the political domain, since 1991, the Republic of Congo has been engaged in a transition towards multiparty democracy and a market economy. This transition was compromised during the 1990s by the succession of civil conflicts, to a large extent between militias of different ethnicities. The country only emerged from civil wars in 2000, when it began the process of reconciliation and reconstruction, a process well advanced but still unfinished. These two sectors require the establishment of viable strategies for greater success.

Понятие «франкофонии» и ее влияние на развитие французской социолингвистики и лингводидактики

The article examines how the concept of «francophonia», which has become established and spread in culture and science as a result of the works of L.S. Senghor, influenced the vectors of development of the French sociolinguistics and linguodidactics. If earlier the attention of scientists was focused on the French language of France, its normalization and codification, and any deviation from the norm caused censure (in this context, we mean regional uses that did not correspond to the norm), then with the advent of the concept of «francophonia», territorial varieties of the French language became separate object of study, thereby giving rise to a new direction of language variation studies, aimed at exploring the richness and originality of regional varieties of the French language. The article gives the names of the first collective monographs dedicated to the peculiarities of the French language, depending on its territorial affiliation and social stratification.As for the French linguodidactics, until the last quarter of the 20th century, its development took place in two directions: teaching French as a mother tongue and teaching French as a foreign language. Here the concept of «francophonia» played an important role, revealing another independent category of French speakers who speak it as a second language. Being initially the achievement of theoretical linguodidactics, the concept of «French as a second language» provoked the development and creation of new teaching aids, mainly for French-speaking countries (with French as a second language for the majority of the population), and later for allophones arriving in France and other French-speaking countries (with French as a mother tongue for the majority of the population).

The Influence of Anglo-American Borrowings on the Current State of the French Language in French-Speaking Countries

The purpose of this study is to describe the language situation of the French-speaking countries in connection with the massive spread of Anglo-Americanisms and their influence on the current state of the modern French language. The research material covers 186 Anglo-American borrowings extracted from articles published and videos posted in French and Canadian periodicals, websites and forums. To achieve the purpose of the study, the following methods were used: the method of continuous sampling of the material, descriptive and comparative methods of the selected material analysis, comparative analysis of dictionary definitions, the method of contextual analysis, as well as the method of statistical data analysis. The results of the study showed that, penetrating into the French language, Anglo-Americanisms undergo lexical, morphological, graphic, syntactic and semantic assimilation in the recipient language. Lexical assimilation, in which Anglicisms are used by native French speakers without adaptation to its language system, is the most frequent phenomenon. The results of an online survey of native French speakers confirmed the following fact: a number of lexically assimilated Anglo-Americanisms most commonly used in everyday life were identified. The survey also revealed a high percentage of respondents inclined to using this layer of vocabulary in their native French language. The study also provides examples of regulatory documents and the names of some public organizations that counteract the penetration of foreign language vocabulary into the French language. An attempt is made to identify extra- and intra-linguistic factors of the integration of Anglicisms into different spheres of human activity. The authors give examples of parallel use of English borrowings and their French equivalents. In the study, the authors pay attention to the etymology of the term Franglais, give a classification of Anglo-American borrowings, as well as represent the ambiguous views of leading linguists and politicians of the French-speaking space regarding the reasons for the appearance of Franglais and their influence on the purity of the French language.