La politique linguistique en Europe - The Linguistic Policy in Europe (France version)

The starting point of this text is the wonder, amazement before a fact which seems so to say "natural": the French speak French, the Germans speak German, Spanish ... speak Spanish, the Polish, the Polish, but exception that proves the rule, the Belgians does not speak Belgian ... (even if some French people think). Whence came this evidence? How is it that Europe is almost the only continent where one thinks this way? For all other continents, the linguistic situation is different: the Cameroonians do not speak Cameroonian, but a multitude of languages, 239 to be exact. Official languages: French and English, but no language barrier! The concept of nation we feel as one of the keys for this answer.nationalism, identity, linguistic policy