18th edition of the Semaine de la langue francaise et de la Francophonie dans le Nord - Pas-de-Calais

In the North – Pas-de-Calais, more than 25 structures, libraries, cultural centres, training organizations but also a tourist office, a museum and a bookstore participate in the event. The mediatheques of Leval and Beauvoir-Wavans, the tourist office and the Museum of Folk Arts and Traditions of Wattrelos are participating for the first time.

 The theme of this 18th edition, « Tell me ten words sown in the distance», illustrates the appeal of French to the languages of the world. Thus, the ten words chosen this year by France, Belgium, Quebec, Switzerland and the international organization of la Francophonie have the characteristic of being established as such in other languages. These are:

workshop, bouquet, cachet, love at first sight, team, protect,

know-how, unique, vis-à-vis, voilà.

In the region, this week is punctuated by numerous activities around the theme, such as writing workshops, spelling competitions, exhibitions, conferences, poetic creation competitions, word mimes, reading rallies or discovery walks.

Thus in the North, the municipal media library of Tourcoing offers to discover the French words sown in the distance over a coffee or tea. On the menu, Spanish, English, Italian and Arab tables. A Wattrelos, the tourist office of the city invites the young public to make a discovery walk around the ten words. Children will have to find definitions by associating them with heritage, culture or the artistic world.

 Finally in the Pas-de-Calais, the inhabitants of Fleurbaix are invited to a short story contest in which the 10 words chosen for 2013 must appear. The Chanel bookshop at Calais will launch texts collected in prose or poetry into the sea.

This event is an opportunity to celebrate the French language by showing our attachment to it and celebrating its richness and diversity. This event, awaited by lovers of the French language, is also a special opportunity to present literary and artistic productions produced as part of the “Dis-moi dix mots” operation.

 The French Language and La Francophonie Week is organized by the Ministry of Culture and Communication (General Delegation to the French Language and Languages of France), in partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Service des affaires francophones) and the Ministry of National Education.

 More information on the site: www.dismoidixmots.culture.fr