Le français tel que le parlent nos tirailleurs sénégalais

In the heat of the First World War, French officers faced the practical challenge of communicating orders to the Senegalese tirailleurs who had forged their own blended tongue, often called “petit nègre.” This concise manual, written in 1916, breaks down the simple yet systematic rules that emerged as West African soldiers adapted French to the phonetics and structures of Bambara, Wolof and other native dialects. By presenting clear examples—from the omission of articles to the use of “trope” for abundance—it offers a vivid snapshot of a living, improvisational language born on the battlefield.

Beyond a dry grammar sheet, the work reveals the cultural exchange that shaped both the soldiers and their commanders, illustrating how a modest set of linguistic shortcuts could bridge continents in moments of urgency. Listeners will hear the rhythm of instruction and the humor that sneaks into each translation, gaining insight into a singular chapter of linguistic history while imagining the daily conversations that kept an army moving forward.