Latest news with #AcadémieFrançaise
Arab Times
4 days ago
- Politics
- Arab Times
Amin Maalouf's ‘Labyrinth of the Lost'
I thoroughly enjoyed reading 'The Labyrinth of the Lost' by the creative and insightful French-Lebanese author Amin Maalouf. Having immigrated to France in the 1970s, Maalouf earned his place among the esteemed 40 members of the Académie Française, famously known as 'The Immortals.' Members of this prestigious academy are elected and hold lifetime membership, although they may choose to resign or be dismissed in cases of misconduct. In addition to his literary achievements, Maalouf also serves as the Secretary General of the Académie Française. Amin Maalouf's book delves into the complex and evolving relationship and often conflict between the West and its historical adversaries, particularly in Southeast Asia, including China and Japan, as well as Soviet Russia and the West's dynamic with the New World, specifically the United States. The book traces the trajectory of these global powers, beginning with Japan's Meiji era, which astonished the world with its rapid industrial development, Soviet Russia, which posed a serious threat to the West for nearly three-quarters of a century before its eventual collapse, and China, which has emerged in the 21st century as the West's primary competitor in global influence, due to its vast population and unique philosophical foundations. Maalouf also highlights the rise of the United States, especially after World War I, and its dominant global role following its decisive victory in World War II, emerging as the most advanced and powerful nation, and arguably the only one capable of defending global stability against external threats. When Maalouf completed his book two years ago, before the outbreak of the Gaza conflict and its repercussions, he predicted a significant decline of the West, particularly embodied by America. What we are witnessing today confirms this prediction, manifesting as political and moral bankruptcy. However, this does not imply that the West's adversaries or challengers are in a better position. Neither side currently holds the capacity to lead humanity out of the complex maze it faces. Even the United States, once a symbol of moral and material hope for many nations globally, is now experiencing setback after setback. America spent billions of dollars on its war in Afghanistan but did not build a single school or clinic there, a stark contrast to its honorable record with Japan and Germany after World War II. Its direct and indirect interventions in dozens of countries worldwide have tarnished both its credibility and the legacy of its founding fathers. The scandals and defeats in Vietnam and Afghanistan, along with the consequences of the Iraq invasion, which many viewed as a defeat, have deeply affected the prudence and humanity of the American administrations. Maalouf concluded that it is not in humanity's best interest to be led by a hegemonic power, whether from America, China, or any other nation, because such dominance inevitably turns that country into an arrogant tyrant, ultimately leading to its downfall, as has occurred with empires throughout history. The solution lies in genuine cooperation within respected international organizations where all voices are heard. It is absurd, for example, to witness America's relentless push to establish an 'International Court of Justice,' only to demand, insist upon, and secure exemptions for its citizens from being held accountable before it. What we are witnessing from the current U.S. administration was foreseen by Maalouf in his insightful book. Maalouf concludes by stating that the huge problems facing our planet require collective action through a system of global solidarity. This is the only way to avoid future dangers, especially now that the world's sole superpower has lost its 'moral legitimacy.'
Local France
06-06-2025
- General
- Local France
French Word of the Day: RDC
Why do I need to know RDC? Because this acronym might help you find your way out of a French building if you are lost. What does it mean? RDC - roughly pronounced RDC - may be the acronym for the central African country, known as 'DRC' or Democratic Republic of Congo in English. But it has a more common meaning in French too, and you might see it on an invitation, an address, or when riding in an elevator. RDC is the acronym for rez-de-chaussée , meaning the part of the building on the ground level, though you might occasionally also see people refer to this as the rez-de-cour or rez-de-jardin. Americans should beware that in Europe, the ground floor is either RDZ or '0' on elevators and staircases. The first floor, instead, is the first floor above the ground floor. Advertisement For example, if you are visiting a new friend in France, they might leave instructions saying Sonnez pour Dupont, première porte à droite, RDC (Ring for Dupont, first door on the right on the ground level). The word rez-de-chaussée has existed since the 14th century, according to the Académie Française . The old preposition rez comes from the Latin rasus , the past participle of radere , meaning to shave or polish. As for chaussée , linguists say that it likely came from the Latin calciata , referring to roads made of limestone. Use it like this Suivez les panneaux indiquant le bâtiment C. Le cabinet se trouve au numéro 12, RDC. - Follow the signs to Building C. The office is located at number 12, ground floor. J'étais perdue en cherchant sa place partout au premier étage, mais après j'ai compris qu'il avait dit RDC. - I was lost looking for his place anywhere on the first floor, but then I realised he'd said RDC.
LeMonde
03-06-2025
- General
- LeMonde
Pierre Nora, historian who shaped intellectual life in France, dies at 93
Saint-Germain-des-Prés, in Paris's Left Bank, was his domain. Living at the corner of Place de Furstenberg, Pierre Nora was a few steps away from the Quai Conti, home to the Académie Française, of which he was a member, and from the headquarters of the prestigious Gallimard publishing house, where he oversaw collections in the social sciences and humanities. From this triangle, the founder of the journal Le Débat was a central figure in shaping intellectual life and debates in France. His elegant silhouette will no longer be seen crisscrossing these streets. Nora died on Monday, June 2, in Paris, at the age of 93, his family told Agence France-Presse. He had become an essential "public historian" whom journalists called upon for analysis of the evolution of national sentiment or the meaning of commemorations and national symbols. His name will remain above all associated with one of the most innovative historiographical undertakings of the past 40 years: Les Lieux de Mémoire, translated as Realms of Memory and Rethinking France, a monumental seven-volume project published between 1984 and 1993. As its director, he brought together 130 historians, including Raoul Girardet, Maurice Agulhon, Antoine Prost and Pascal Ory, notably to decipher the symbols of the French Republic (the tricolor flag, the Republican calendar, La Marseillaise) and its monuments (the Panthéon, town halls, war memorials).
Local France
22-05-2025
- Local France
French Word of the Day: Non-lieu
Why do I need to know non-lieu? Because you might see this in a headline after a scandal in France. What does it mean? Non-lieu - roughly pronounced non-lee-uh - translates precisely as 'not place'. The word lieu is widely used in everyday French to mean simply a place, as in lieu de naissance (place of birth) or lieu de travail (workplace). However non-lieu has a very specific legal meaning. It is actually a shortened version of a longer legal term, which is non-lieu à suivre or non-lieu à poursuivre. Advertisement In the French legal system, this basically means the dismissal of a case by the investigating judge ( juge d'instruction ). READ MORE: Crime and punishment: Understanding French legal language As such, you might see headlines non-lieu réquis par , which means 'dismissal of the case requested by (insert famous person). There are a few reasons why a non-lieu might occur, but some of the most common are a lack of sufficient evidence to justify further action, the end of the statute of limitations, or the death of the accused. A non-lieu differs from another term you might see - classement sans suite - which is based on the discretion of the public prosecutor who might choose to drop the case before going to trial. It also differs from l'aquittement (aquittal) which occurs at the end of a trial. As for the origin of this terminology, non-lieu has existed since the 19th century. In the more general use of lieu it usually it designates a real, physical space ( Lieu public ou privé - a public or private space). However according to the Académie Française , it can also be used more abstractly to refer to the 'grounds/reason for something'. The Académie gave some examples of this usage, like Il y a lieu de douter (there is a reason to doubt) or Il y a lieu à contestation (There are grounds to contest) - and it's from this sense that we get non-lieu . Use it like this La justice a prononcé un non-lieu pour les trois policiers impliqués dans l'incident. - The judge dismissed the investigation against the three police officers involved in the incident. L'avocat a défendu le non-lieu, affirmant qu'il était conforme au droit et qu'il n'y avait pas de preuves réelles contre son client. - The lawyer defended the dismissal of the investigation, saying that it was in line with the law and that there was no real evidence against his client.
Local France
09-05-2025
- General
- Local France
French grammar tips: Should you use 'je suis allé' or 'j'ai été' or both?
It can be very confusing to hear a French person seemingly make a grammatical mistake in their own language. If you ask your friend if they want to go to dinner and they enthusiastically reply je suis chaud! the French 101 sirens might go off in your head. Your French teacher probably told you to never say this, as it is also a way of describing sexual excitement. However, languages change and evolve, and these days, je suis chaud just means "I am up for it". A prime example of official versus colloquial French coming into conflict is the use of j'ai été versus je suis allé when trying to say "I went" or "I was (at)". Basically, when people do this, they use the past participle of être (to have) instead of the verb aller (to go), but you were probably taught to do the latter in French class. But in our modern times, a person speaking casual French might say j'ai été à la marché cet après-midi (I went to the market this afternoon), or j'ai été à Paris l'an dernier (I went to Paris last year, or I was in Paris last year). Some linguists believe that these examples aren't completely wrong. In fact, two French dictionaries, Le Larousse and Le Robert both allow for a more flexible usage of j'ai été , specifically as a casual variant of je suis allé. As for the guardian of the French language, the Académie Française, the rule is categorical: if you are trying to say that you went somewhere, you should use je suis allé . Advertisement If you want a more detailed explanation (in French), you can watch this helpful grammar video by the Parlez-Vous Français account. So all of that to say - you might be able to use j'ai été when discussing your comings and goings. However, you might want to prioritise the universally correct je suis allé (or je suis allée , if you are a woman) when writing a letter or email, or when having a more formal conversation. Grammar tips From agreeing adjectives to the subjunctive, French grammar can be fiendishly - some claim deliberately - complicated and almost all French learners have at one point despaired over ever getting it right. People learn languages in different ways - some people prefer to just throw themselves into chatting, others like to have a textbook and some exercises. But the formal and structured nature of the French language means that if you want to become fluent - and if you need written French - then you are going to have to learn some grammar. That's the purpose of our weekly series of French grammar tips and tricks - and you can also sign up to receive them as a newsletter. Advertisement The tips are not intended as a substitute for formal classes or sweating over those verb tables (sadly, those are necessary for most people), but may be of some help to language learners. They come from our own experiences of living and working in France, and as with our popular French word of the Day feature , we've tried to focus on examples that will be useful in everyday life. Read more French grammar tips; French grammar tips: Look out for the accent French grammar tips: Cheat the future Guessing the gender of nouns The cheat's guide to the subjunctive Understanding French place names Getting the date and time right Pay attention to your French friend's English mistakes Which French grammar rules do you find most confusing? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
