In this day and age, it is important to be accessible. We want everyone to enjoy this play. However, because this is all about language politics, there are some key cultural concepts that may need to be explained to a non-francophone audience. I recommend reading the following before the show begins if you are an anglophone or allophone (first language neither French or English).
Langue-langue: In French the word for “language” is the same word for “tongue”. This pun is used once or twice in the play.
Bescherelle: Literally a book which is a guide to verb conjugations. French has seventeen tenses and most spelling differences aren’t reflected in different pronunciation. Writing in French is complicated, so anyone who goes through French school spends a lot of time with this book. Most French speakers get a slightly haunted look on their face when you bring up “Bescherelle”.
Académie de la Langue Française: An institution in France which has the intention of determining and regulating what is proper French throughout the French speaking world, or francophonie. They are notorious for being prescriptive, old fashioned, and against any of the dialect variants you can find around the world. In other words, ethnocentric because it’s based on Parisian French as the model to duplicate.
Subjonctif imparfait: One of the most obscure verb tenses in French, one that most francophones aren’t able to use without help.
Official languages act: The Canadian law that declares Canada an officially bilingual country with both English and French as its official languages. This law is literally why bureaucrats have to be bilingual. Also, for the sake of the play this section is relevant : “AND WHEREAS the Government of Canada is committed to protecting and promoting the French language, recognizing that French is in a minority situation in Canada and North America due to the predominant use of English”. In other words, the support offered for the French language isn’t just something the government does because they are nice; it is literally their legal obligation.
Langues Tordues 