Le français langue étrangère : Langue dominante ou dominée, langue résistante ou langue de valeur ? Une observation critique dans le contexte du Malawi

Abstract

French as a Foreign Language: Dominant or dominated language, language of resistance or language of value? A critical observation in the context of Malawi. Malawi is a linguistically diverse country in Southern Africa. In this already complex multilingual environment, French as a Foreign Language is often perceived as a newcomer positioned after English and the local languages in terms of educational and societal relevance. Yet, despite this peripheral status, French holds undeniable potential. It is increasingly seen not only as a strategic language but also as a meaningful contributor to education and personal, professional, and collective development of Malawians. Thanks to partnerships with French-speaking countries and organizations such as the International Organization of Francophonie, it is taught in few secondary schools and universities, becoming crucial for Malawians in fields such as diplomacy, international trade, and interpretation, where foreign language skills are increasingly sought after. However, French must contend with the dominance of English, which is the official language of Malawi and often associated with economic opportunities and high social status. Despite this challenge, institutions such as the Alliance Française support the learning of French through various cultural and linguistic programmes.
Contribution: This article raises key questions: How is French being valued and promoted in Malawi today? Can it influence, or even reshape, the country’s linguistic priorities? Can it integrate linguistic diversity into Malawi’s educational policy? To explore these issues, we propose to examine French as a dominant or a dominated language, a language of resistance, and a language of value in the Malawian context.