The Wordsmith

Down with Oligarchs!

First observed in Russia after the collapse of the Soviet Union, this term taken from Ancient Greece – today used to describe a privileged […]

By Dominique Mataillet
| March 22, 2023

The Wordsmith

Sobriety: The Party’s Over

How can we reduce carbon emissions and preserve the planet’s natural resources? By tightening our belts and consuming less but better. After all, sobriety […]

By Dominique Mataillet
| February 21, 2023

The Wordsmith

American or United-Statesian?

Some people are indignant that a single country like the United States seems to have monopolized the demonym of a whole continent! […]

By Dominique Mataillet
| February 8, 2023

The Wordsmith

Francocide, from Fantasy to Reality

Based on the terms “femicide” and “genocide,” this word is used by the far right to condemn the murder of French people supposedly killed […]

By Dominique Mataillet
| January 18, 2023

Perspectives

France, a Nation of Sports

The French have a particular penchant for self-deprecation, and many fail to realize that their country is one of the finest sporting nations on […]

By Dominique Mataillet
| November 22, 2022

The Wordsmith

Liberalism, Warts and All

Regularly decried as the source of all evils, liberalism (like democracy) seems to be the worst system – except for all the others that […]

By Dominique Mataillet
| November 21, 2022

Perspectives

“The French Language Is Doing Just Fine, Thank You!”

Who better than this jovial linguist to champion the French language? Bernard Cerquiglini holds a doctorate in literature, formerly directed the Center for French […]