Anyone who has gone on a French holiday in the past few years may have noticed a strange phenomenon taking place across the country: the spread of English into the French language.

The spread of contemporary English terminology like “Chat”, “talk,”, “newsletter”, “tuning” (the motoring slang rather than the radio term) and “buzz” (internet craze) among the French youth is causing concern among the conservative French linguistic community. The Independent reports that in response, government agency L’Academie Francais has announced its own, officially approved Francophile terminology.

Believed by many to be an effect of exposure to the world wide web (otherwise known as “La Toile”) and the prevalence of English terms to describe popular phenomena online, La Academia Francais has been concerned for some time over the perceived corruption of their language.

The French are notoriously protectionist of their language; ever since L’Academie Francaise was established in 1635 to act as an official authority on language, the French language has resisted natural development of language in favour of a more official approach.

Understandably, this organisation was troubled the spread of Anglicisms. In response, the government held a competition for students and school children to identify French-sounding terms for these modern terms. The final list will be considered for entry into French dictionaries.

From now on, those on a French holiday can expect to hear trends and popular crazes referred to as “Ramdam” rather than “buzz”; the practise of “tuning” up a car as “bolidage“; online “chat” as “éblabla“; “newsletters” as “infolettre“; and the simple “talk” as “debat”

From now on: the use of “Le Buzz” to describe trending online rumours, topics or crazes; the use of “le tuning” to describe the act of modifying cars; and everyday “talk” will now be referred to as “débat”.

Of course, whether or not these words are accepted from Paris to the Dordogne has yet to be seen. In the past similar initiatives have seen success – replacing “software” with “logiciel” and “walkman” with “baladeur” – whilst others have proven a massive flop, such as the attempt to replace “hacker” with “Fouineur” or “smiley” with “Frimousse”.

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