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The Language of Diplomacy |
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Diplomacy, Politics and
International Law |
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Besides the classification of diplomatic agents, French words denote
some of the basic principles, procedures and practices of diplomatic
ceremonial. Among them, for example, is an important principle of
diplomatic exchange called agrément the formal
indication by one country of the acceptability of a diplomat to be
sent to it by another. The procedure, which enables the receiving
country to express its willingness or unwillingness to receive the
particular diplomat, is called agréation. |
Terms of French origin are used to denote some of the fundamental
rules of diplomatic law, like, for
instance, the principle of
diplomatic immunity.
It provides for the
inviolability
of the ambassador. The totality of privileges and immunities
accorded to diplomatic agents is denoted by the term
extraterritoriality (cf. F. immunité, inviolabilité,
extra-territorialité).
Many of the most vital diplomatic tools and techniques are French in
origin. They include
negotiation
(from négociation), which may lead to a formal agreement
known as a
treaty
(from traité), which is then formally confirmed by the act of
ratification,
which brings about
rapprochement,
which results in a period of
détente.
Some of these examples, like rapprochement (a reconciliation
of interests of rival states after a period of estrangement) or
détente (a relaxation of tension between nations) show that
diplomacy shares many of its terms with the sphere closely related
to it politics. Instances of the French contribution here will run
into pages and pages of terms. Here is just a small selection of
words shared by the spheres of diplomacy and politics:
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Chauvinism extravagant, demonstrative super-patriotism. The
term is derived from the name of Nicolas Chauvin, a Napoleonic
soldier who was notorious for his unrestrained devotion to his
leader and the Empire.
Débâcle - a calamitous failure or collapse, or an
overwhelming defeat.
Impasse deadlock or stalemate
Laissez-faire the policy or practice of non-interference,
domestically as between governments and industrialists,
internationally as between nations.
Raison détat the interest of the state taking precedence
over normally accepted morality.
Sabotage - destructive or obstructive action carried on by a
civilian or enemy agent to hinder a nation's war effort. |
An equally great number of French terms are used in the related
domains of diplomacy and international law. A few are given
below:
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Cordon sanitaire a belt of countries isolating another
nation in order to check its aggressiveness or lessen its
influence.
Démarche - a diplomatic or political initiative or manoeuvre.
Fait Accompli an act by one or several states that creates
a new situation vis-à-vis another state or group.
Force majeure compulsion or coercion by circumstances,
which one cannot control.
Laissez-passer a permit or pass allowing officials of one
country to travel in another.
National subject or citizen.
Tacite reconduction renewal of a contract by tacit
agreement.
Voisinage exceptional de facto relations between states and
their citizens, arising out of special conditions in a borderland
area. |
Diplomacy, politics and international law have all to deal with
such fundamental questions for international relations as war
and disarmament. Scores of war-related words form part of their
terminological systems. The vocabulary of war and disarmament is
very extensive, with the French element in it so prominent as to
merit separate consideration.
To sum up the examples of the first kind of French influence. The
French language of diplomacy had a well-developed terminological
system, accepted and used by diplomats of many countries. It was a
matter of convenience to adopt this system wholesale into English
the process, which was facilitated by the remarkable capacity of
English to accommodate any number of Romance borrowings. The terms
show varying degrees of naturalization and anglicising. Many of
them, as our examples testify, still preserve their original form.
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