# What Does The "Academie Francais" Do? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 27, 2003, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-academie-francais-do/204153 "2003-09-27T13:17:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2003, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-academie-francais-do/204153/1 "2003-09-27T13:17:55Z")
I understand that this very prestigious body was set up by Cardinal Richeliu in 1665, and that being appointed to it is very desireable. You get to wear a spiffy uniform (and a sword)…but exactly what are your duties as an academician? Can an American be a member? ---
**Author:** ![David\_Simmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9de053/32.png) [@David\_Simmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_Simmons)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2003, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-academie-francais-do/204153/2 "2003-09-27T13:51:06Z")
I believe that the Academie’s main task is to maintain the French language. The organization publishes a dictionary which is the official word on the language. These days their struggle probably is against “franglais” and the intrusion of other such crummy foreign influences into the language. ---
**Author:** ![HanoNymus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ee59a6/32.png) [@HanoNymus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HanoNymus)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2003, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-academie-francais-do/204153/3 "2003-09-27T13:54:46Z")
If you can read French try [this](http://www.academie-francaise.fr/index.html) for more info on l’Académie française