Toubon Law: Encyclopedia II - Toubon Law - Effects of the law

Toubon Law - Effects of the law

The most significant effect of the law is that it makes it mandatory for commercial advertisements and public announcements to be given in French. This does not rule out advertisements made in a foreign language: it is sufficient to provide a translation in a footnote, a very widespread practice. This was justified as a measure for the protection of the consumer.

In addition, the law specifies obligations for public legal persons (government administrations etc.), mandating the use of French in publications, or at least in summaries of publications. In France, it is a constitutional requirement that the public should be informed of the action of the government (Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen, article 15: "Society has the right of requesting [an] account[ing] from any public agent of its [i.e., society's] administration."); since the official language of France is French, it follows that the French public should be able to get official information in French.

Other dispositions concerned the use of French in colloquia. These dispositions are largely ignored by many public institutions, especially in the academic fields.

Some dispositions of the law were found to be unconstitutional by the Constitutional Council (decision 94-345 DC), on grounds that they violated freedom of speech, after a complaint by members of parliament of the left-wing opposition.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Effects of the law", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki