Allophones de France : réflexions sur l’idée d’une altérité linguistique à sens unique

Abstract

This article aims to analyze the possible consequences of the uses of the word “allophone” in French educational contexts. After considering the etymology of “allophone”, which refers to a linguistical alterity, we will see that this word only applies to a few immigrated pupils who attend in special school units, called UPE2A. Since 2012 and its introduction in the French school system, “allophone” is used as a provisory word that would enhance the languages these pupils speak instead of pointing out the language they don’t speak : French. Yet, we will suggest another reading of this word. What do allophone pupils become when they are not considered allophone anymore ? Who would be the idiophone ? What do we mean by other and by language in the word allophone ? At last, what does speaking the same language could even mean ?

Keywords

• allophone pupils
• allophony
• plurilingualism
• migration
• school