Conseil supérieur de la langue française

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The Conseil supérieur de la langue française (English: "Superior Council of the French language") is an organization in a number of French-speaking countries that advises the government on issues relating to the usage of the French language. Bodies by this name exist in France, Belgium and in Québec (Canada).

1 Québec
2 Notes
3 See also
4 External links

[edit] Québec

Article 185 of the Québec Charter of the French Language establishes a Council under the name of Conseil supérieur de la langue française.^[1] It was initially created in 1977 with the adoption of the Charter.

[edit] Mandate

The mandate of the Quebec Council is to "advise the minister responsible for the application of the Charter of the French language on any question relative to the French language in Quebec."^[2]

Specifically, the Council may:^[3]

give its opinion to the minister on any question that he or she submits;
inform the minister on any question which the Council believes requires the attention of the government.

[edit] Powers

In order to carry out its mission, the Council may:^[4]

receive and hear observations by individuals or groups;
carry out or have someone carry out the studies and research it finds necessary.

In addition, it may inform the public on any question relative to the French language in Québec.

[edit] Council members

The Council is made up of 8 members appointed by the government:^[5]

Conrad Ouellon, president
Delfino Campanile, member
Winston Chan, member
Mélanie Joly, member
Jocelyn Létourneau, member
Sylvia Martin-Laforge, member
Lorraine Pagé, member
Roger Plamondon, member

[edit] Studies and Research

The council has conducted many studies since 1978, most of which are available online for consultation. The studies touch various subjects from linguistic human rights, language shifts and assimilation, language planning, quality of written and spoken language, terminology, language demographics, challenges to linguistic and cultural diversity in the era of globalization etc.

[edit] Award

The Council awards various prizes:^[6]

Medal of the Ordre des francophones d'Amérique (Order of the francophones of America) - awarded since 1978
Prix du 3 juillet 1608 (July 3 1608 Prize) - awarded since 1978
Prix Jules-Fournier (Jules Fournier Prize) - awarded since 1981
Prix Raymond-Charette (Raymond Charette Prize) - since 2000
Prix Émile-Ollivier (Émile Ollivier Prize) - since 2005

[edit] Notes

^ The Charter of the French Language, on the Web site of the Office québécois de la langue française, retrieved February 18th, 2008
^ Mandat, on the Web site of Conseil supérieur de la langue française, retrieved February 18th, 2008
^ Mandat, on the Web site of Conseil supérieur de la langue française, retrieved February 18th, 2008
^ Mandat, on the Web site of Conseil supérieur de la langue française, retrieved February 18th, 2008
^ Membres, on the Web site of Conseil supérieur de la langue française, retrieved February 18th, 2008
^ Prix et distinctions, on the Web site of Conseil supérieur de la langue française, retrieved February 18th, 2008