The Conversation

Diplomacy and resistance: how Dune shows us the power of language – including sign language

In the Dune films, language is not only a means through which we can come to know something. It is something which can transform the limits and nature of knowledge itself. Read on to discover the linguistic film critique by Gemma King, Senior Lecturer in French Studies at ANU.

Annie Ernaux, French feminist who uses language as ‘a knife’, wins Nobel Prize for Literature

Annie Ernaux was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature on October 6, she is the first French woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature since 1901. Read the article by Prof. Véronique Duché to learn more about 'The Mother of Sociological Fiction' and her works.

Pas de souci! The French war on saying ‘no worries’

The quirks of the French language are an eternal puzzle for many foreign learners. But what students often don’t know is that they are also the matter of heated debates and controversies within France itself.

France has a unique approach to regenerating inner cities – what can we learn from its success?

The regeneration of inner-city areas is a global challenge. Inner cities in France certainly have their problems, but the nation also has a good record of successful major urban regeneration projects. We have analysed three of these initiatives to understand what factors contribute to good regeneration outcomes.

The Antarctic Treaty is turning 60 years old. In a changed world, is it still fit for purpose?

The 1959 Antarctic Treaty celebrates its 60th anniversary this week. Negotiated during the middle of the Cold War by 12 countries with Antarctic interests, it remains the only example of a single treaty that governs a whole continent.

What is Bastille Day and why is it celebrated?

French people travelling to or living in English-speaking countries are sometimes surprised when asked about their plans for “Bastille Day”: they refer to the day as Quatorze Juillet (14 July).