Date of Defense

4-30-2025

Date of Graduation

8-2025

Department

Global and International Studies

First Advisor

Matt Nielsen

Second Advisor

Viviane Ruellot

Abstract

From the moment language is acquired, it comes with implicit rules that structure communication and establish social expectations. “Proper” speech is linked to compliance and is often used to assess a person’s intelligence, identity, and social status. For this reason, language moves beyond communication and is used for deeper associative meanings that can group, judge, silence, and empower individuals.

Therefore, those who diverge from linguistic norms, whether by choice, necessity, or exclusion, often face significant social consequences. Language becomes an indicator of social conformity, while deviation can be a form of resistance. This resistance is particularly common among marginalized communities who develop distinct linguistic forms as expressions of solidarity, exclusion, and identity. Examples include African American Vernacular English (AAVE) in the U.S. and the Loo language among LGBTQ+ communities in Thailand. In multilingual and post-colonial societies in particular, linguistic resistance develops as a response to cultural assimilation and institutional exclusion.

One notable example of this linguistic resistance is Verlan, a form of French slang that inverts syllables to obscure meaning. While the historical origins of Verlan are ambiguous, its contemporary presence among North African immigrant communities is more well-documented. For these communities, the use of Verlan disrupts dominant French linguistic standards and acts as a rejection of assimilation. Thus, I argue that Verlan has become a marker of cultural identity and a form of opposition to French linguistic purity.

This essay explores the complex relationship between language and resistance through the lens of Verlan. The first section examines Verlan’s history and evolution, followed by a discussion of its ties to post-colonial migration and urban marginalization from the 1960s onward. Later sections analyze its stigmatization due to racial and class biases in France and the significant influence of other languages in its structure. The essay concludes with an analysis of French hip-hop, showing how the presence of Verlan highlights the voices and experiences of marginalized communities.

By analyzing Verlan’s historical roots, the specific communities in which it evolved, and its introduction into popular French culture by way of music, this essay seeks to demonstrate how language can serve as a prominent force in shaping both culture and politics. In this way, Verlan offers a fascinating intersection between language, identity, history, and social resistance.

Access Setting

Honors Thesis-Open Access

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