No English please! Survey on the languages used for research and teaching in France

Abstract

A survey of public-sector researchers and academics shows that English is used almost exclusively as the international language of dialogue in the hard sciences, and is also well-established in the humanities and social sciences. English is also the language of choice for publications, meetings held in France and websites. A quarter of the surveyed researchers and academics had taught a class in English during the year. The Toubon Act of 1994 protects consumers and employees, but has not held back the expansion of English as the international language of communication in science.