ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Toubon Law

The Toubon Law is a law in France that says French should be the main language used in things like advertising, at work, and in the media. This means that businesses and organizations that operate in France have to use French when they communicate with the public.

It all started a long time ago when some people in France worried that too many people were speaking other languages like English instead of French. They were afraid that this would make French less important and could hurt their culture. So, they made a law to protect the French language and to make sure that it stayed strong.

The Toubon Law has some specific rules that businesses and organizations have to follow. For example, in France, if you want to sell a product, you have to put the instructions in French. If you have an ad that is in French, but also has words in another language like English, the French words have to be bigger and more prominent. This way, people can easily tell that the ad is in French and they understand what it means.

The law also requires that schools in France teach at least part of their classes in French, so that students can learn and use the language. And, it means that French movies and TV shows have to be broadcasted in French, even if they were originally made in another language.

Overall, the Toubon Law is important because it helps preserve the French language and culture. By making sure that French is the main language used in public, it helps maintain its importance and relevance in the world.