Le français au sénégal de 1817 à 1960 : d’une langue imposée à une langue qui s’est imposée

Abstract

This study traces the course of the French language and the role it played during colonization in Senegal. It is a mission that it accomplished well and which allowed it to be chosen as the official language of independent Senegal in 1960. The article looks back on the use of French from mutual education to the accession of the country to independence, passing through the secular school and the school of the hostages of Faidherbe, as well as the major reorganization of the teaching in 1903 in the AOF. Then, the impact of the exclusive use of French in colonial education when choosing an official language is highlighted. Furthermore, this study focuses on the motivations for choosing the French language as an official language to the detriment of national languages.