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As we move from more technical to more general diplomatic notions,
the degree of naturalisation increases and is evident in the
anglicised pronunciation of the words, if not in their spelling.
Among the notions that are central to diplomacy are, for example,
diplomatic titles. The titles and order of rank were established by
the Congress of Vienna in 1815. In its regulations, which were, in
accordance with the custom of the time, in French, the Congress
specified three classes of heads of missions: |
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Celle des ambassadeurs, légats ou nonces;
Celle des envoyés, minitres ou autres, accrédités auprès des
souverains;
Celle des chargés d’affaires, accrédités auprès des ministres
chargés du portefeuille des affaires étrangères. |
This classification of diplomatic agents is reproduced without
change in the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961,
the three classes, in English, being:
The words for the ecclesiastical agents in both the French and
the English versions are derived from Italian and Latin sources
(Ital. nunzio, Lat. legatus – both meaning
“envoy”). Other heads of mission are designated in English by
the French words ambassador, envoy and chargés
d’affaires. The generic term diplomat is, of course,
also French in origin (from diplomate).
The ordinary custom is to give to an agent of the second class the
double title of envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary
(cf. F. envoyé extraordinaire et minister plénipotentiare).
The spelling form of chargé d’affaires shows no sign of
naturalisation. Nor do the designations of certain types of
chargés d’affaires, like chargés d’affaires en titre,
chargés d’affaires en pied, and chargés d’affaires ad interim
(the last of which is half-Latin).
Over and above the heads of mission there is only the doyen –
the senior diplomatic representative of the highest category. His
wife performs certain official functions and is called the
doyenne.
French influence spreads down as well as up the hierarchy of
diplomatic agents. Among the personnel of lesser rank the most
important are attachés. An attaché is a technical
specialist attached to a diplomatic mission to perform
representational and reporting activities related to his or her
special field. Hence we have military attaché (cf. F.
attaché militaire), naval attaché (attaché naval),
commercial attaché (attaché commercial), economic
attaché (attaché économique), etc. The heads and the
diplomatic staff of all the missions accredited to a government
form, collectively, the diplomatic body, or corps diplomatique.
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