>I wonder if they are the ones approving words like "parking" (english word)instead of "stationnement" (french word) :)

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>I believe in France, there is an "Institute for the Purity of the French Language" (or some very similar name [in French of course!]) - funded by the government.

I believe that the Académie Française is trying (and failing, maybe) to keep words like "parking" out of French and get people to use words like "stationnement". They also try to come up with French words and phrases for new concepts and technology invented abroad. Some of these words and phrases are much longer and more cumbersome than their English equivalents, I believe. But I don't know any examples.