The Dictionary of Francophones, the first of its kind, was launched on Tuesday 16 March during the Semaine de la Francophonie. This online dictionary was created by order of French President Emmanuel Macron. It has been prepared by a scientific council consisting of academics from several French-speaking countries.
The 300,000 francophones around the world now have their dictionary showing nearly 600,000 terms and expressions. Some examples quoted by Paul de Sinety, French delegate general in the Ministry of Culture: “giraffes” in West Africa means “copy” when in school; “Relief”, in Reunion, is “drunkenness” …
There is also “lower your feet”, which means “to become discouraged” in Senegal, while in France we say “lower your arms”. And as of yesterday, a new word entered the dictionary, suggested by Louise Mushikiwabo, Secretary General of La Francophonie. This is the verb “for technical”, used in Rwanda, or “to find a solution with few means”. Because this dictionary develops and participates.
“Every user is free to suggest terms or expressions,” notes Paul de Sinety. And after being validated by the Scientific Council coordinated by eminent linguist Bernard Cerquiglini, with whom more than 15 academics from around the world work from La Francophonie’s space, from the moment these terms or expressions are validated, they can appear. in free access in this dictionary with French speakers ”.
►The dictionary of francophones can be downloaded and is available for free.
► Also read: “Imaginécole” an educational platform for 6.6 million French-speaking students in Africa
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