Les Langues de Polynésie Française et la Constitution: Liberté, Egalité, Identité

Abstract

The languages in use in French Polynesia alongside French are a matter of cultural and current political concern. For France it is a constitutional issue. Professor Debène provides the background to, and a close analysis of, the issue. Given the daily use of Tahitian languages with French in French Polynesia, one solution to these concerns is to do nothing. Another solution – the one here proposed – is to amend art 74 of the French Constitution to provide specifically for the use in overseas countries of both French and other languages. This would guarantee language freedom and well-organised local language education.