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Abstract: The relevance of the study can be attributed to the need to deconstruct colonial narratives in the era of globalization, in which linguistic practices continue to reproduce historical hierarchies. Analysis of the Franco-African literary context allows the authors to identify the mechanisms of preserving and overcoming cultural inequality, which is significant for sociolinguistics, critical theory, and intercultural communication studies. The problem lies in the dual role of language: on the one hand, it serves as a tool for symbolic violence and the reinforcement of ethnic stereotypes; while on the other hand, it becomes a means of decolonization and formation of a new cultural identity. The study employs the method of critical discourse analysis to identify repressive and subversive linguistic strategies, as well as a comparative analysis of texts by the key Franco-African authors (A. Mabanckou, L. S. Senghor, F. Diome, A. Kourouma). The results demonstrate that Franco-African authors use specific strategies of linguistic resistance: hybridization (blending French with African languages), re-semantization of colonial concepts, and parodic estrangement from the Eurocentric discourse. These strategies make it possible to transform language from an instrument of oppression into a platform for constructing authentic identity and creating new semiotic spaces. The research confirms that the linguistic strategies employed in Franco-African literature serve a dual function, acting simultaneously as a marker of colonial legacy and as an effective tool for cultural resistance. The findings are important for understanding the dynamics of language ideology and practices of overcoming social inequality in the modern multicultural world.

About the author(s) :

Marina N. Vinnikova

Kazan (Volga Region) Federal University (Kazan, Russian Federation)

ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3070-8467

Taisia V. Utochkina

Kazan (Volga Region) Federal University (Kazan, Russian Federation)

ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5634-8263

Publication Timeline:

Date of receipt: 04.12.2025; date of publication: 31.03.2026

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