Migrant Literature in France: from Transnational to Transcultural Identity

This article discusses transnational literature in French by focusing on the shift from "francophonie" to "littérature monde en français". Recent studies have examined transnational literary developments in relation to the traditional cultural centre of Paris. We argue that decentralisation is the effect of the dynamic process of transculturality rather than transnationalism, as transculturality allows for cross-cultural encounters and exchange. In order to examine the effects of such transcultural encounters, we analyse examples of immigrant authors living in France who have chosen to write in French. Our analysis shows that literary translingualism - texts writtten in language other than the mothertongue - results in the acceptance of a new, transcultural identity that crosses national and geographic boundairies