French language purists L’Académie française have a new word on their hit list. L’Académie française was established in 1635 and is charged with ensuring that no pesky foreign words infiltrate the French language. They are required to publish a French dictionary and often offer alternative French words for foreign words that have gained popularity within France. Although they make rulings on such matters, the people of France are not required to follow their advice. The latest word to irk L’Académie française is hashtag, which has no doubt gained popularity because of the rise of Twitter. Hashtag is by no means the only word for French language purists to panic about.

Already, the French culture ministry has a huge list of English words on its website which it fears are in danger of slipping into common French usage.

These words include email, blog, supermodel, take-away, parking, weekend and low-cost airline.

The site, which has a blacklist vocabulary of 65 pages, also features obscure terms like detachable motor caravan and multifunctional industrial building.

Mot-diese has been offered as an alternative for the French to use instead of hashtag. Although L’Académie française offer alternative French words, they are not always adopted. Courriel was offered as an alternative to e-mail but many French people have not adopted it and still use the English word.

via: Truth Dive