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Institut national des langues et civilisations orientales
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Institut national des langues et civilisations orientales (French pronunciation: [ɛ̃stity nɑsjɔnal de lɑ̃ɡ e sivilizɑsjɔ̃ ɔʁjɑ̃tal]; transl. "National Institute for Oriental Languages and Civilizations"),[1] abbreviated as INALCO, is a French Grand Etablissement with a specializing in the teaching of languages and cultures from the world. Its coverage spans languages of Central Europe, Africa, Asia, America, and Oceania. With 104 languages taught as of 2024, this institution is currently the world's largest provider of language training courses.[2][3][4][5]
Key Information
It is also informally called "Langues’O" (French: [lɑ̃ɡz‿o]) in French, an abbreviation for Langues orientales.
The INALCO logo is made up of the school's acronym, each part of which is translated into languages written in non-Latin characters, corresponding to Inalco's fields of teaching and research.[1]
History
[edit]- 1669 Jean-Baptiste Colbert founds the École des jeunes de langues language school
- 1795 The École spéciale des langues orientales (Special School for Oriental Languages) is established
- 1873 The two schools merge
- 1914 The school is renamed the École nationale des langues orientales vivantes (ENLOV)
- 1971 The school is renamed the Institut national des langues et civilisations orientales or Inalco (National Institute for Oriental Languages and Civilizations)
- 1984 Inalco is recognized as a Grand établissement
- 2010 Inalco becomes a founding member of Sorbonne Paris Cité
- 2011 Inalco centralizes all of its taught courses under one roof at 65 rue des Grands Moulins in Paris[6]
Teaching
[edit]Organization
[edit]Inalco is structured partly into departments, whose perimeter corresponds to a region of the world, and partly into professionally-oriented courses or sectors.[7] Departments may be monolingual or group together several language sections. Inalco's courses prepare students for careers in intercultural communication and training, international trade, teaching French as a foreign language, advanced international studies, and Natural Language Processing.
List of departments and sections (and their languages)
[edit]- Africa and Indian Ocean (Amharic, Bambara, Chleuh, Comorian, Fulani, Hausa, Kabyle, Malagasy, Mandingo, Soninke, Swahili, Tuareg, Wolof, Yoruba)[8]
- South Asia Himalayas (Bengali, Hindi, Nepali, Urdu, Rromani, Sanskrit, Sinhalese, Tamil, Telugu, Tibetan)[9]
- Southeast Asia and the Pacific (Bisaya, Burmese, Bislama, Cham, Drehu, Tagalog, Ilocano, Indonesian Malay, Khmer, Lao, Môn, Thai, Tahitian, Taï lü, Vietnamese)[10]
- Arabic Studies (Modern Standard Arabic, Classical Arabic, Algerian, Moroccan, Tunisian, Egyptian, Syrian-Lebanese)[11]
- Chinese Studies (Standard Chinese, Min, Classical Chinese)[12]
- Korean Studies (Korean)[13]
- Hebrew and Jewish Studies (Biblical, Rabbinic, Medieval and Modern Hebrew, Judeo-Arabic, Judeo-Spanish, Yiddish)[14]
- Japanese Studies (Japanese)[15]
- Russian Studies (Russian, Belarusian)[16]
- Eurasia (Armenian, Azeri, Georgian, Kurdish, Mongolian, Ossetian, Uyghur, Uzbek, Pashto, Persian, Kazakh, Tatar, Turkish)[17]
- Europe (Polish, Czech, Sorbian, Slovak, Slovene, Bosnian-Croatian-Serbian, Bulgarian, Macedonian, Ukrainian, Hungarian, Finnish, Estonian, Udmurt, Latvian, Lithuanian, Romanian, Modern Greek, Albanian)[18]
- Languages and cultures of the Americas (Inuktitut languages, Mayan languages, Quechuan languages, Guarani, Nahuatl)[19]
List of sectors
[edit]- International trade[20]
- Intercultural communication and training[21]
- Language didactics[22]
- International relations[23]
- Text, Computing, and Mutlilingualism (NLP)[24]
The Institute offers initial training at Bachelor's, Master's and PhD levels, as well as continuing education open to external students and professionals. Foreign students can take French as a foreign language courses. Short, à la carte courses, evening classes and “practical certificates” are also popular.
Research
[edit]Overview
[edit]Research at Inalco combines area studies and academic fields. Researchers study languages and civilizations that are increasingly in the spotlight – Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and as far as the Arctic – and are central to the major issues of the 21st century. Fourteen research teams, often partnered with other research organizations, PhD programs, and a publishing service form the backbone of research at Inalco. Inalco also has a project management and knowledge transfer service.
The research teams, administration offices, and doctoral school are housed in a building dedicated entirely to research, with access to a full range of support functions: assistance in preparing research proposals and grant applications, organizing scientific events, looking for partnerships and funding, publication support, internal funding, and communication.
- 14 research teams (see below)
- 270 faculty members
- 300 PhD students
- 100 scientific events per year
Research teams
[edit]Local units:[25]
- CERLOM (Centre d'Etude et de Recherche sur les Littératures et les Oralités du Monde)
- CERMOM (Centre d'Etudes et de Recherche Moyen-Orient, Méditerranée)
- CREE (Centre de Recherche Europes-Eurasie)
- ERTIM (Équipe de Recherche Textes, Informatique, Multilinguisme)
- LACNAD (Langues et Cultures du Nord de l’Afrique et Diasporas)
- PLIDAM (Pluralité des Langues et des Identités: Didactique – Acquisition – Médiations)
Joint research units (UMR):[26]
- CASE (Centre Asie du Sud-Est) - with EHESS and CNRS
- CeRMI (Centre de Recherche sur le Monde Iranien) - with Sorbonne nouvelle, EPHE, and CNRS
- CESSMA (Centre d’études en sciences sociales sur les mondes africains, américains et asiatiques) - with UPC and IRD
- CRLAO (Centre de recherches linguistiques sur l'Asie orientale) - with EHESS and CNRS
- IFRAE (Institut français de recherche sur l’Asie de l’Est) - with UPC and CNRS
- LACITO (Langues et Civilisations à Tradition orale) - with Sorbonne Nouvelle and CNRS
- LLACAN (Langage, Langues et Cultures d’Afrique) - with EPHE and CNRS
- SeDyL (Structure et Dynamique des Langues) - with IRD and CNRS
Presidents
[edit]From 1914 to 1969, presidents were called administrators.
| Dates | Name | Discipline | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1796–1824 | Louis-Mathieu Langlès | Persian language | Died in 1824 |
| 1824–1838 | Antoine-Isaac Silvestre de Sacy | Arabic | Died in 1838 |
| 1838–1847 | Pierre Amédée Jaubert | Turkish language | military interpreter during the Egyptian campaign 1798 |
| 1847–1864 | Carl Benedict Hase | modern Greek | Died in 1864 |
| 1864–1867 | Joseph Toussaint Reinaud | Arabic | Died in 1867 |
| 1867–1898 | Charles Schefer | Persian | Died in 1898 |
| 1898–1908 | Charles Barbier de Meynard | Turkish, Persian | Died in 1908 |
| 1908–1936 | Paul Boyer | Russian language | Died in 1949 |
| 1936–1937 | Mario Roques | Romanian language | Died in 1961 |
| 1937–1948 | Jean Deny | Turkish | Died in 1963 |
| 1948–1958 | Henri Massé | Persian | Died in 1969 |
| 1958–1969 | André Mirambel | modern Greek | Died in 1970 |
| 1969–1971 | André Guimbretière | Hindi | Died in 2014 |
| 1971–1976 | René Sieffert | Japanese language | Died in 2004 |
| 1976–1986 | Henri Martin de La Bastide d’Hust | Middle East civilisation | Died in 1986 |
| 1986–1993 | François Champagne de Labriolle | Russian | Vice-president from 1971 to 1986 |
| 1993–2001 | André Bourgey | Middle East civilisation | |
| 2001–2005 | Gilles Delouche | Thai language (Siamese) | Died in 2020 |
| 2005–2013 | Jacques Legrand | Mongolian language | |
| 2013-2019 | Manuelle Franck | Geography of Southeast Asia | Vice-president from 2007 to 2013 |
| Since 2019 | Jean-François Huchet | Economy of Eastern Asia | Vice-president from 2013 to 2019 |
International
[edit]Inalco conducts research projects in more than one hundred countries and offers joint programs with foreign universities. This enables Inalco students and their international counterparts to enhance their studies through immersive experiences. Inalco also provides distance learning courses through videoconferencing and online resources, offering instruction in Arabic, Armenian, Burmese, Estonian, Modern Hebrew, Inuktitut, Lithuanian, Malagasy, Quechua, Sinhalese, Slovak, and Swahili.[27][28]
Inalco is an active member of Sorbonne Paris Cité, with 120,000 students, 8,500 faculty members, and 6,000 technical and administrative staff. Branches have been opened in Singapore, Buenos Aires and São Paulo.
Inalco is in 2007 a founding member of the Consortium for Asian and African Studies (CAAS), with the School of Oriental and African Studies (UK), the Tokyo University of Foreign Studies (Japan), Leiden University (Netherlands), and the National University of Singapore.[29] Since, they have been joined by Columbia University (USA), the Hankuk University of Foreign Studies (South Korea), and Shanghai International Studies University (China).[30][31][32]
The foundation strives to develop the preservation, study, transmission, development and interaction of languages and cultures in France and around the world with projects involving the institute's expertise: education, research, advancing knowledge and skills in a globalized world.
More than 120 nationalities are represented by Inalco faculty and students. The institute, along with its teachers, students and partners, organizes over a hundred cultural events a year.[33] Inalco also participates in several international film festivals (such as the Vesoul International Film Festival of Asian Cinema) and makes every effort to share its knowledge and expertise with society.[34]
Notable professors and alumni
[edit]- Ivan Aguéli
- Meryem Benm'Barek-Aloïsi
- Doris Bensimon
- Augustin Berque
- Boris Boillon
- Luce Boulnois
- Rémi Brague
- Louis-Jacques Bresnier
- Marianne Bastid-Bruguière
- Auguste Carrière
- Gérard Chaliand
- Jean-François Champollion
- Henry Corbin
- Léon Damas
- Luc-Willy Deheuvels
- Jean-Luc Domenach
- Mathias Énard
- Philippe Étienne
- Bernard Faure
- Edgar Faure
- Princess Fawzia-Latifa of Egypt
- François Godement
- Bruno Gollnisch
- Maurice Gourdault-Montagne
- Marcel Granet
- Marcel Griaule
- Claude Hagège
- Prince Henrik of Denmark
- Isabelle Huppert
- Guillaume Jacques
- Georges Kersaudy
- Ysabelle Lacamp
- Jonathan Lacôte, French Ambassador to Armenia
- Hervé Ladsous
- Gilbert Lazard
- Iaroslav Lebedynsky
- Heinrich Leberecht Fleischer
- Jacques Legrand
- Jean-David Levitte
- Nathalie Loiseau
- André Malraux
- Pierre Messmer
- Souad Kassim Mohamed
- Pierre Mornand
- Louise Peltzer
- Patrick Poivre d'Arvor
- Princess Maria Laura of Belgium, Archduchess of Austria-Este
- Pierre Messmer
- Jean-Jacques Origas
- Trinidad Pardo de Tavera
- Louis Réau
- Clotilde Reiss
- Dagpo Rinpoche
- Olivier Roy
- Laurent Sagart
- André Santini
- Léopold de Saussure
- Aurélien Sauvageot
- Johann Gustav Stickel
- Hissein Brahim Taha
- Nahal Tajadod
- Serge Telle
- Virginie Thévenet
- Germaine Tillion
- Nicole Vandier-Nicolas
- Arnold Van Gennep
- Jacques Vergès
- Jean-Christophe Victor
- Eva de Vitray-Meyerovitch
- Olivier Weber
See also
[edit]Notes
[edit]a. ^ Institute: ተቋም [Amharic]; NAtional: национален [Bulgarian]; Languages: שפה [Hebrew]; Civilizations: 文化 [Chinese]; Oriental: شرقية [Arabic]
References
[edit]- ^ "welcome to Inalco website". Inalco. 7 March 2019. Retrieved 19 December 2020.
- ^ "Les langues et civilisations enseignées à l'Inalco | Institut National des Langues et Civilisations Orientales". www.inalco.fr. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
- ^ "Institut national des langues et civilisations orientales". Top Universities. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
- ^ "Au cœur de l'Inalco : par amour des langues". L'Etudiant (in French). Retrieved 11 June 2024.
- ^ "L'Inalco, « seul endroit au monde où autant de langues africaines sont enseignées » - Jeune Afrique.com". JeuneAfrique.com (in French). Retrieved 11 June 2024.
- ^ See map.
- ^ "Departments, sections and streams | Institut National des Langues et Civilisations Orientales". www.inalco.fr. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
- ^ "Africa and Indian Ocean | Institut National des Langues et Civilisations Orientales". www.inalco.fr. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
- ^ "South Asia Himalayas | Institut National des Langues et Civilisations Orientales". www.inalco.fr. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
- ^ "Southeast Asia and Pacific | Institut National des Langues et Civilisations Orientales". www.inalco.fr. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
- ^ "Arabic studies | Institut National des Langues et Civilisations Orientales". www.inalco.fr. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
- ^ "Chinese studies | Institut National des Langues et Civilisations Orientales". www.inalco.fr. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
- ^ "Korean Studies | Institut National des Langues et Civilisations Orientales". www.inalco.fr. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
- ^ "Hebrew and Jewish Studies | Institut National des Langues et Civilisations Orientales". www.inalco.fr. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
- ^ "Japanese studies | Institut National des Langues et Civilisations Orientales". www.inalco.fr. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
- ^ "Russian studies | Institut National des Langues et Civilisations Orientales". www.inalco.fr. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
- ^ "Eurasia | Institut National des Langues et Civilisations Orientales". www.inalco.fr. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
- ^ "Europe | Institut National des Langues et Civilisations Orientales". www.inalco.fr. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
- ^ "Languages and cultures of the Americas | Institut National des Langues et Civilisations Orientales". www.inalco.fr. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
- ^ "International trade | Institut National des Langues et Civilisations Orientales". www.inalco.fr. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
- ^ "Intercultural communication and training | Institut National des Langues et Civilisations Orientales". www.inalco.fr. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
- ^ "Language didactics | Institut National des Langues et Civilisations Orientales". www.inalco.fr. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
- ^ "International relations | Institut National des Langues et Civilisations Orientales". www.inalco.fr. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
- ^ "Texts, Computers, Multilingualism | Institut National des Langues et Civilisations Orientales". www.inalco.fr. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
- ^ "Local research centres | Institut National des Langues et Civilisations Orientales". www.inalco.fr. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
- ^ "National Research Centres | Institut National des Langues et Civilisations Orientales". www.inalco.fr. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
- ^ "Formation initiale à distance". 13 October 2020.
- ^ "Institut National des Langues et Civilisations Orientales (Inalc…". FUN MOOC (in French). Retrieved 11 June 2024.
- ^ "CAASagreement" (PDF).
- ^ "CAAS_Appendix" (PDF).
- ^ "Appendix_HUFS_Admission_20110310" (PDF).
- ^ "appendix_SISU2017" (PDF).
- ^ "L'Inalco en chiffres". Inalco (in French). 25 September 2013. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
- ^ "INALCO Jury - Festival des Cinémas d'Asie de Vesoul". www.cinemas-asie.com. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
External links
[edit]General
[edit]Research teams
[edit]Institut national des langues et civilisations orientales
View on GrokipediaOverview
Mission and Scope
The Institut national des langues et civilisations orientales (INALCO), established in 1795, is a public grand établissement under the French Ministry of Higher Education and Research, dedicated to the teaching and research of languages and civilizations to support practical needs in diplomacy, international trade, and intercultural relations.[1][6] Its core mission emphasizes the acquisition of advanced language proficiency alongside in-depth knowledge of associated cultures, histories, societies, and contemporary dynamics, distinguishing it from general universities by its specialized focus on area studies.[1][7] INALCO's scope encompasses over 100 languages and civilizations across diverse regions, including Africa, Asia, Central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East, the Americas, and Oceania, with programs integrating linguistic training and cultural analysis to foster global competence.[1][4] This comprehensive coverage enables students to engage with non-Western perspectives, promoting humanism, cultural exchange, and professional applications in fields such as multilingual engineering, international business, and humanitarian action.[7][6] As of 2023, INALCO enrolls approximately 9,000 students in initial training programs, including a significant international cohort representing over 120 nationalities, and employs around 235 tenured teaching staff to deliver its research-oriented curriculum.[4][8] This structure supports its role in advancing intercultural understanding by combining language mastery with interdisciplinary studies on political, economic, and social systems of targeted regions.[1][7]Campuses and Facilities
The Institut national des langues et civilisations orientales (INALCO) operates from two primary campuses in Paris, supporting its teaching and research activities. The historic site at 2 rue de Lille in the 7th arrondissement serves as the Maison de la Recherche, a facility established in its current form in 2021 following renovations to the mid-18th-century building, to which Inalco relocated in 1873. This location houses INALCO's research units, doctoral studies administration, publications office, and financial research support services, emphasizing scholarly work in oriental languages and civilizations.[9] The main teaching campus, known as the Pôle des langues et civilisations, is located at 65 rue des Grands Moulins in the 13th arrondissement and has functioned as INALCO's central hub for academic instruction since 2011. Situated within the Paris Rive Gauche development, this modern facility accommodates the majority of undergraduate and graduate courses, providing spacious classrooms and collaborative spaces designed for language immersion and cultural studies.[10] INALCO's facilities include specialized libraries and resource centers tailored to oriental studies. The central library at the Maison de la Recherche features a dedicated pavilion with collections focused on rare manuscripts, periodicals, and monographs in over 100 languages, complemented by access to the Bibliothèque universitaire des langues et civilisations (BULAC) for broader interdisciplinary holdings. Language laboratories and multimedia setups, such as nine free-access booths for audiovisual materials and audio labs equipped with tools like Kallylang and Sanako software, enable practical training in phonetics, conversation, and digital media production across these languages. Digital resources are robust, with platforms like Moodle offering course materials, exercises, and forums, alongside a media library with over 1,500 DVD titles, complemented by a video-on-demand platform, for cultural and linguistic content.[9][11][12] To enhance accessibility, both campuses incorporate features for students with disabilities, including ramps and elevators at the Maison de la Recherche to ensure mobility support. A virtual tour of the sites is available online, allowing prospective students to explore the Pôle des langues et civilisations and Maison de la Recherche interactively from street-level views to interior spaces. With a capacity to serve approximately 9,000 students, INALCO has integrated hybrid learning infrastructure since 2020, featuring video consultation stations, self-service computer rooms, and remote access to digital tools to accommodate blended face-to-face and distance education models.[13][14][4][8][15]History
Founding and Early Years
The École spéciale des langues orientales was established on 10 Germinal Year III (30 March 1795) by a decree of the French National Convention, within the premises of the Bibliothèque nationale in Paris.[2] This creation was spurred by a report from Joseph Lakanal, president of the Committee of Public Instruction, who advocated for a specialized institution to train interpreters proficient in "vulgar and diplomatic idioms" essential for France's commercial, political, and diplomatic relations with the East.[16] The initiative drew on proposals by orientalist Louis-Mathieu Langlès, who emphasized practical language training to address the acute shortage of skilled interpreters following the Revolution.[17] From its inception, the school focused on four key living oriental languages: Arabic (both literary and vulgar dialects), Turkish (including Crimean Tartar), Persian, and Malay, selected for their strategic importance in trade routes, diplomacy, and emerging colonial interests.[16] Instruction emphasized oral proficiency and practical application, distinguishing it from more theoretical academic programs, with courses designed to produce interpreters capable of serving in embassies, consulates, and expeditions. Langlès, appointed as the first director, played a pivotal role in shaping the curriculum, drawing on his expertise in Arabic and Persian while recruiting initial faculty from scholars at the Bibliothèque nationale.[17] The early years were marked by significant challenges amid France's political turbulence, including the Directory period, Napoleonic Wars, and subsequent restorations, which disrupted funding and operations. Enrollment remained limited, often to a handful of students per chair due to the school's cramped quarters at the Bibliothèque nationale and difficulties in acquiring teaching materials like manuscripts and dictionaries.[2] Despite these obstacles, the institution persisted, with directors like Langlès fostering a blend of utility and scholarship; by the mid-19th century, reforms under decrees of 1838 and 1869 refined the program to include geography of language regions and balanced oral ("viva voce") and written instruction.[16] In 1873, a presidential decree merged the school with the École des jeunes de langues (founded 1669) and relocated it to 2 rue de Lille in Paris, providing dedicated space and enabling expansions such as library acquisitions and enhanced facilities for practical training.[2][18] This move marked a consolidation of its foundational role, laying the groundwork for further institutional growth in the following decades.20th Century Developments
In 1914, amid the outbreak of World War I, the institution was renamed the École nationale des langues orientales vivantes (ENLOV), emphasizing the teaching of "living" languages to meet the urgent needs for interpreters and diplomats in contemporary global conflicts.[2] This change, formalized by a decree on June 8, 1914, elevated its status as a key higher education entity and introduced the enduring nickname "Langues O'."[2] Following World War II, ENLOV underwent significant expansion, incorporating languages from decolonizing regions to support France's evolving diplomatic, commercial, and cultural interests. By the 1969-1970 academic year, the curriculum encompassed approximately 50 languages, a marked increase from its earlier focus, driven by geopolitical shifts and rising student enrollment that strained facilities and prompted temporary relocations such as to Porte Dauphine in 1968.[2] In 1971, the institution was officially redesignated as the Institut national des langues et civilisations orientales (INALCO), reflecting a broader mandate that integrated the study of civilizations alongside language instruction and aligned it with the University of Paris Sorbonne amid post-1968 educational reforms.[2] This evolution facilitated the integration of women into teaching roles, with pioneering female scholars like Maria Szurek-Wisti contributing to oriental languages and ethnology programs during the mid-20th century. Concurrently, INALCO shifted toward academic research, complementing practical language training with scholarly pursuits in linguistics and cultural studies to address complex global dynamics.[2] In 1984, INALCO attained the status of a grand établissement, enhancing its autonomy and research capabilities as a precursor to further modernizations.[2]Modern Era and Expansions
In 1984, under the framework of the Savary Law on higher education, INALCO was designated a grand établissement, conferring upon it a high degree of autonomy comparable to that of elite institutions such as the grandes écoles, allowing independent governance and specialized academic focus.[19] This status, formalized in 1985, enabled INALCO to operate as a distinct public establishment of scientific, cultural, and professional character, free from direct university affiliation while maintaining ties to the national higher education system.[20] Advancing into the 21st century, INALCO joined the Sorbonne Paris Cité alliance in 2010 as a founding member, fostering interdisciplinary collaborations across institutions in higher education and research with a combined enrollment exceeding 120,000 students.[2] This partnership enhanced INALCO's role in multinational academic networks, promoting joint programs in linguistics, area studies, and cultural exchanges.[18] To streamline operations, INALCO consolidated all teaching activities in September 2011 at a new facility located at 65 rue des Grands Moulins in Paris's 13th arrondissement, centralizing previously dispersed programs into a modern, purpose-built structure designed for language and civilization studies.[2] Complementing this, the Maison de la Recherche was inaugurated in 2021 at 2 rue de Lille in the 7th arrondissement, repurposing an 18th-century historic building as a hub for research units focused on linguistic mediations, intercultural studies, and area-specific scholarship.[2] This dual-site model supports expanded scholarly output while preserving heritage elements. Recent initiatives underscore INALCO's ongoing vitality: in September 2025, the institution hosted European Heritage Days at its rue de Lille site, offering public access to the historic building with guided explorations of its architectural and cultural significance from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. on September 20.[21] Additionally, INALCO organized the 19th NooJ International Conference from June 11 to 13, 2025, convening linguists and computational experts at its Grands Moulins auditorium to advance natural language processing methodologies through workshops and presentations.[22] These events reflect INALCO's commitment to public engagement and cutting-edge research amid steady growth in covered languages.Academic Programs
Degree Programs
The Institut national des langues et civilisations orientales (Inalco) offers a three-year Bachelor's degree (Licence) program, structured around 180 European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits, focusing on the LLCER (Langues, Littératures et Civilisations Étrangères et Régionales) major.[23] This program combines intensive language proficiency training with in-depth studies of literature, history, and cultural contexts, available in 57 languages ranging from common to rare ones across Asia, Africa, Europe, and beyond.[23] Students engage in practical components such as oral and written language exercises, translation workshops, and introductory fieldwork to apply linguistic skills in real-world scenarios, fostering a balanced understanding of linguistic structures and civilizational dynamics.[24] At the graduate level, Inalco provides two-year Master's programs (120 ECTS credits), building on the Bachelor's foundation with advanced specialization in area studies, linguistics, and intercultural communication.[25] Key tracks include the LLCER Master's, which deepens expertise in specific languages and civilizations through seminars on literature, anthropology, and geopolitics; the Language Sciences (SDL) Master's, co-accredited with Université Sorbonne Nouvelle, emphasizing linguistic diversity and theoretical analysis; and professional-oriented programs like Translation and Interpreting (TI), Didactics of Languages (DDL), and International Relations (IR).[26][27][28] These curricula integrate practical elements, including advanced translation projects, interpreting simulations, and optional fieldwork abroad, preparing students for careers in diplomacy, education, and international business while promoting research methodologies.[28] Doctoral programs at Inalco are conducted through the École Doctorale n°265 "Langues, Littératures et Sociétés du Monde," typically spanning three years of full-time equivalent research under the supervision of over 100 habilitated directors.[29] This research-based pathway supports advanced theses in linguistics, literature, anthropology, and area studies, drawing on sources in over 100 languages and civilizations taught at the institution, with an emphasis on multidisciplinary approaches across 14 affiliated research units.[30] Approximately 300 PhD students are enrolled, engaging in original fieldwork, archival research, and collaborative projects to contribute to scholarly knowledge on global linguistic and cultural phenomena.[30] The program includes pedagogical training to enhance research skills and professional development, ensuring theses align with high academic standards.[31]Continuing Education and Specialized Training
The Institut national des langues et civilisations orientales (INALCO) offers a wide array of non-degree continuing education programs tailored for working professionals, adult learners, and those seeking lifelong skill enhancement in languages and cultures. These include customized courses available in group or individual formats across over 100 languages, covering regions from Central and Eastern Europe to Asia, Oceania, Africa, and the Americas.[32][33] Designed for flexibility, the programs feature evening classes, Saturday sessions, intensive workshops, and bespoke training modules that can be adapted to participants' schedules and needs, enabling professionals to build or refine competencies in comprehension, expression, and cultural nuances without disrupting their careers.[34][35] Specialized training under INALCO's Executive Education initiative targets high-level professionals, including diplomats and business executives, with programs such as Com2i (Intercultural and International Communication). This program provides short, practical courses on multilingual organizational communication, geopolitics, and intercultural strategies, often customized for corporate teams to address specific international challenges like negotiating with partners in China or analyzing regional media.[36][37] Examples include modules on understanding Generation Z in intercultural contexts or working effectively with Ukrainian stakeholders, delivered in modular formats lasting from a few hours to several days.[36] INALCO also delivers short-term certifications focused on translation, interpretation, and cultural expertise, frequently developed in partnership with employers and public institutions. These certifications prepare participants for professional applications, such as the Diplôme de Compétence en Langue (DCL) for general language proficiency, LILATE for languages like Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, and Russian, and JLPT for Japanese, with preparatory courses emphasizing practical skills in specialized contexts like diplomacy or commerce.[33][38] Partnerships with entities such as the Japan Foundation and organizations like the Ministère des Armées or the Musée du Louvre facilitate tailored sessions that integrate real-world expertise, ensuring certifications align with employer demands.[35][39] To enhance accessibility, particularly for returning students and mid-career adults, INALCO has incorporated flexible scheduling and expanded online options since 2020, including distance learning platforms and hybrid formats for many courses. This approach supports diverse learners by offering self-paced elements, virtual assessments, and intra-company delivery, with over 1,800 trainees participating in 2022-2023 alone.[33][35]Organizational Structure
Departments and Sections
The Institut national des langues et civilisations orientales (INALCO) organizes its academic activities into 11 study departments, each focused on specific geographic and cultural regions, alongside a plurilingual section for languages and cultures and two professional departments.[40][41] These departments serve as the primary units for coordinating teaching, research, and administrative operations, ensuring integrated curricula that combine language instruction with civilization studies across disciplines such as anthropology, history, and literature.[41] The departments include Africa and Indian Ocean, South Asia, Southeast Asia and the Pacific, Japan, China, Arab Studies, Eurasia, Hebrew Studies, Russian, Central and Eastern Europe, and Americas.[40] Each department is governed by a council, elected every three years by teaching staff and students, which defines pedagogical strategies, examination procedures, and resource allocation, including advisory input on additional teaching hours.[41] For instance, the Africa and Indian Ocean department encompasses sections dedicated to North and Saharan Africa, sub-Saharan Africa (with emphases on West, East, and Southern regions), and the Indian Ocean islands, facilitating targeted programs in regional languages and cultural contexts.[42] INALCO's departments collectively employ 235 tenured teaching staff members, who develop and deliver interdisciplinary streams such as those in international relations, language didactics, and intercultural communication, integrating regional expertise with broader professional skills from the bachelor's level onward.[4][40] These units promote cross-departmental collaboration to address complex global themes, ensuring curricula remain adaptable to evolving scholarly needs. A notable recent development is the enhancement of the Americas department, which specializes in indigenous languages and cultures of North, Central, and South America, offering unique multi-year degree programs in languages like Quechua, Nahuatl, and Guarani—the only such offerings worldwide at the university level.[43][40] This restructuring underscores INALCO's commitment to underrepresented areas, with department councils renewed in December 2022 to support these expansions.[41]Languages and Civilizations Covered
The Institut national des langues et civilisations orientales (INALCO) provides comprehensive training in 77 languages and their associated civilizations, emphasizing both oral and written proficiency across beginner to advanced levels, with a particular focus on rare and endangered languages to preserve cultural heritage.[44] This extensive catalog reflects INALCO's mission to cover linguistic diversity from Europe to the Americas, integrating language instruction with studies of regional histories, literatures, and societies. Note that Korean language courses are closed for the 2025-2026 academic year.[44] In African and Indian Ocean studies, INALCO offers 11 languages, including Amharic, Bambara (Mandingo), Hausa, Berber (including Kabyle), Malagasy, Swahili, Wolof, Comorian, Fulani, Soninke, and Yoruba, alongside explorations of sub-Saharan and North African civilizations such as Islamic and oral traditions.[44] These programs highlight unique offerings like Berber dialects from Algeria, Morocco, and the Sahara, fostering proficiency in both spoken forms and cultural contexts. Asian languages form the core of INALCO's curriculum, encompassing 33 options across East, South, Southeast, Central, and Himalayan regions, such as Chinese (Mandarin and classical), Japanese, Korean (closed for 2025-2026), Hindi, Persian, Turkish, Vietnamese, Pashto, Uyghur, Bengali, Tamil, Tibetan, Burmese, Khmer, Lao, and Indonesian-Malaysian.[44] Rare languages like Uyghur and Pashto are emphasized, often paired with civilization studies on topics including Silk Road histories, South Asian literatures, and Southeast Asian philosophies, under departmental oversight for specialized regional expertise. Beyond Asia and Africa, INALCO covers languages from other regions, including European ones like Albanian, Modern Greek, Hungarian, Polish, Romanian, and Ukrainian; American indigenous tongues such as Quechua, Nahuatl, Guarani, Inuktitut, Tzeltal, and Yucatecan Maya, with a focus on endangered varieties and Mesoamerican civilizations; and others like Armenian, Hebrew (integrated with Jewish studies), Azerbaijani, Georgian, and Pacific languages including Drehu, Tahitian, and Bislama.[44] This selection underscores INALCO's commitment to global linguistic preservation, particularly for endangered languages like Nahuatl and Guarani, through tailored proficiency training.Research Activities
Focus Areas and Approach
The research at the Institut national des langues et civilisations orientales (INALCO) adopts a core approach centered on situated studies that integrate linguistics, sociolinguistics, literature, history, and anthropology, tailored to specific cultural regions such as Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.[45] This interdisciplinary methodology fosters cross-fertilization between area studies and disciplinary fields, employing qualitative and mixed methods including discourse analysis, ethnographic fieldwork, and lexicometry to examine how languages shape identities, narratives, and societal dynamics.[46] By combining linguistic expertise with humanities perspectives, INALCO's research emphasizes contextualized analysis that avoids Western-centric frameworks, promoting a nuanced understanding of non-European civilizations.[45] A key emphasis lies in applied outcomes that extend beyond theoretical inquiry, particularly in translation practices, cultural policy development, and digital humanities applications for endangered or underrepresented languages.[45] Researchers leverage tools like automatic language processing and data mining to address practical challenges, such as preserving linguistic diversity through digital archives or informing policies on multilingualism in global contexts.[46] These efforts ensure that findings contribute to real-world applications, including enhanced translation technologies and strategies for cultural heritage preservation.[45] Doctoral training forms a cornerstone of INALCO's research ecosystem, conducted through École Doctorale 265 "Langues, littératures et sociétés," which supports approximately 300 PhD students with rigorous, high-level supervision from over 100 qualified faculty members.[47] The program provides comprehensive guidance from thesis registration to defense, including funding for field missions, professional skills workshops, and international collaborations, ensuring students develop both disciplinary expertise and career-ready competencies.[47] INALCO's publishing services, via Les Presses de l'Inalco, facilitate the dissemination of research through monographs, scholarly books, and journals dedicated to oriental and non-Western civilizations.[48] These publications, often in open access formats, cover interdisciplinary works on languages, literatures, and cultural histories, serving international academic presses and fostering global scholarly dialogue.[49]Research Teams and Collaborations
The Institut national des langues et civilisations orientales (Inalco) maintains 14 dedicated research teams, structured as host teams (équipes d'accueil) or joint research units (unités mixtes de recherche, UMR) that emphasize regional languages, cultures, and interdisciplinary approaches.[45][50] These teams produce scholarly output through seminars, fieldwork, and publications, supporting Inalco's doctoral school, which oversees approximately 300 PhD students in linguistics, literature, and area studies.[47] Key teams include LACNAD (Languages and Cultures of North Africa and Diaspora), which examines sociolinguistics, urban practices, and cultural transmission in the Maghreb and France, drawing on anthropology, history, and arts.[51][52] IFRAE (French Research Institute on East Asia, UMR 8043), a collaboration with CNRS and Université Paris Cité, focuses on historical, social, and linguistic dynamics across China, Japan, Korea, and Mongolia, hosting over 65 researchers and 90 doctoral/postdoctoral scholars.[53][54] Other regional teams cover diverse areas, such as LLACAN (Languages, Languages and Cultures of Africa, UMR 8135) for African linguistics and oral traditions in partnership with CNRS, and CREE (Center for Research on Eastern Europe) for studies on Russia, Central Asia, and the Balkans.[55][56] Teams like CERLOM address global literatures and oralities, while ERTIM specializes in computational linguistics and multilingual processing.[57][58] Inalco's teams collaborate extensively with national institutions such as CNRS and EHESS, forming joint UMRs that integrate Inalco's language expertise with broader humanities research; for instance, IFRAE and LLACAN exemplify these ties.[54][55] Internationally, over 200 partnership agreements enable joint projects in more than 100 countries, including fieldwork with bodies like the EFEO (French School of Asian Studies) in Southeast Asia via the CASE team.[50][59] These collaborations yield approximately 100 scientific events per year, alongside PhD defenses and publications through Inalco's presses.[50][6] A notable recent initiative is Inalco's participation in the EUniWell European University alliance since 2023, with 2025 projects like the LIME network exploring lived multilingualism and its links to societal well-being across partner universities in Germany, France, and Spain.[60][61] This effort trains students and staff in multilingual research methodologies, fostering cross-cultural well-being studies.[61]Leadership and Governance
List of Presidents
The Institut national des langues et civilisations orientales (INALCO), originally founded as the École spéciale des langues orientales in 1795, has been led by a series of directors and administrators until 1971, after which the title shifted to president upon its elevation to grand établissement status. These leaders have shaped the institution's development, from its early focus on practical language training for diplomacy and trade to its modern role in advanced research and international partnerships. The following chronological list highlights key presidents, their tenures, and notable contributions where documented, drawing on historical administrative records and institutional announcements.| Name | Tenure | Specialization/Contributions |
|---|---|---|
| Louis-Mathieu Langlès | 1795–1824 | Founder-director; established the curriculum in living Oriental languages such as Arabic, Persian, and Turkish, emphasizing practical applications for commerce and politics.[62][20] |
| Antoine-Isaac Silvestre de Sacy | 1824–1838 | Leading orientalist and administrator; expanded the school's library holdings in Oriental manuscripts and promoted scholarly rigor in philology and grammar studies.[63][20] |
| Pierre Amédée Jaubert | 1838–1847 | Orientalist and diplomat; strengthened ties with the Collège de France and advanced instruction in Persian and Armenian languages.[20] |
| Charles Benoît Hase | 1847–1864 | Philologist; oversaw the integration of comparative linguistics into the curriculum during a period of institutional stabilization.[20] |
| Joseph Reinaud | 1864–1867 | Numismatist and historian; focused on cataloging Oriental collections amid growing enrollment.[20] |
| Charles Schefer | 1867–1898 | Arabist; longest-serving early administrator, who modernized administrative structures and expanded language offerings to include Turkish dialects.[20][64] |
| Charles Barbier de Meynard | 1898–1908 | Orientalist; emphasized historical studies alongside language training.[20] |
| Paul Boyer | 1908–1936 | Russian specialist; navigated the school through World War I, introducing Russian and Slavic languages and enhancing its role in diplomatic training.[65][20] |
| Mario Roques | 1936–1937 | Medievalist; brief tenure focused on administrative continuity.[20] |
| Jean Deny | 1937–1948 | Turkish professor; led during World War II, maintaining operations and post-war recovery in Turkic language studies.[65][20] |
| Henri Massé | 1948–1958 | Persianist; supported expansion of archaeological and historical research programs.[20] |
| André Mirambel | 1958–1969 | Hellenist and linguist; advocated for interdisciplinary approaches, including modern linguistics.[20] |
| André Guimbretière | 1969–1971 | Hindi specialist; oversaw the transition to INALCO's new status as a national institute.[20] |
| René Sieffert | 1971–1976 | Japanese studies expert; initiated post-1971 reforms to integrate civilizations studies more deeply.[20] |
| Jean-Claude Revzon | 1976–1981 | Arabist; emphasized continuing education programs.[66] |
| Michel Tardieu | 1981–1986 | Central Asian religions scholar; guided strategic planning amid 1980s institutional growth.[66] |
| François Champagne de Labriolle | 1986–1993 | Russian specialist; contributed to the 1984 decree elevating INALCO's status and expanding international collaborations.[20][67] |
| André Bourgey | 1993–2001 | Middle Eastern civilizations expert; advanced research in Arab world studies and digital resources.[20] |
| Gilles Delouche | 2001–2005 | Thai language professor; founded continuing education services and enhanced Southeast Asian programs.[68][69] |
| Jacques Legrand | 2005–2013 | Mongolian linguist; promoted Central Asian studies and faculty international mobility.[70][71] |
| Manuelle Franck | 2013–2019 | Southeast Asian geographer; focused on urban studies in Asia and institutional partnerships in the region.[72] |
| Jean-François Huchet | 2019–present | China economy specialist; has driven international expansion, including the creation of the INALCO Foundation in 2021 to support language preservation and global outreach, leveraging his expertise in Asian economic development.[73][74][75] |
