By Annette Boudreau, professor in the Department of French Studies and director of the CRLA (Centre for Research in Applied Linguistics) at the University of Moncton

It is from her own trajectory as a researcher and through the accounts of people met during ethnographic-style inquiries that the author seeks to understand how language—here French—plays a crucial role in the creation of social categories. She attempts to show the link between linguistic practices and social inequalities, while discussing the challenges faced by people who live in the shadow of the legitimate language and who must navigate the various spaces of the Francophonie, both national and international. The book is published by Classique Garnier.