French: It’s the official language of no fewer than 29 countries, which span all the continents of the world. Its influence doesn’t end there, as it is also an official language of various high-profile organizations and institutions, including the United Nations and the European Parliament. While it is firmly established as a language of diplomacy, for many, it is synonymous with French literature, from Baudelaire and Proust to Sartre and de Beauvoir.
Read on to find out more about la belle langue – and the many reasons why it is so beloved by native speakers and learners alike.
What is the French language?
Over 300 million people speak French worldwide, including both native speakers and those who have learned it as a second language. But what is French, really – and why does it enjoy such wide reach and admiration? To answer that, we need to explore where and how it’s spoken today.
Where is it spoken?
It won’t come as a surprise that French originated in France, but owing to its central position in Europe, along with the way the Roman Empire expanded across the continent (more on that to come!), the language has never been confined to France’s borders. Speaking of which, did you know that France has 11 land borders (including those of its overseas territories), which is the highest number of any country in the European Union? This is one of the reasons behind its pervasiveness across the continent, where it holds official status in all the following countries:
- France
- Switzerland
- Belgium
- Luxembourg
- Monaco.
Further afield, you’ll hear French spoken in 24 African countries, including:
- Senegal
- Côte d’Ivoire
- Algeria
- Morocco
- Tunisia
- Democratic Republic of Congo
- Chad
- Cameroon
- Benin
- Djibouti
- Rwanda.
In the Americas, it’s well known that French is one of Canada’s two official languages, but did you know that it’s also the official language of French Guiana, in South America? Although not an official language, French has also left its mark on the United States, especially Louisiana and New York, where French communities have thrived for centuries.
France also has overseas territories in the Pacific, namely New Caledonia and Wallis and Futuna. French Polynesia, meanwhile, is classed as an overseas collectivity (collectivité d’outre-mer), although it remains under French sovereignty. The language spoken in this part of the world is an enchanting mix of standardized French and ancestral Polynesian languages.
Which dialects of the French language are most widely spoken?
Owing to its global coverage, there are many French dialects. These emerged as French expanded and developed, taking on influences from neighboring countries or existing languages.
For instance, Québecois (Canadian French) includes various archaisms, as it has preserved many of the features of 17th– and 18th-century French (from the settlers who arrived during that time), which have effectively disappeared from European French. It also features many Anglicisms, due to its proximity to the USA and English-speaking Canada.
In France itself, the main dialect used is Metropolitan French, which is associated with Paris and also used in formal contexts. Every region of France has its own accent and particular turns of phrase.
In neighboring Belgium, you’ll hear a version of French known as Walloon. It features some notable differences from Metropolitan French, such as the use of septante (70) and nonante (90), rather than soixante-dix and quatre-vingt-dix.
Other commonly used French dialects include:
- Swiss French (used in Western Switzerland)
- African French (although each French-speaking African country also has its own regional nuances, influenced by local languages)
- Maghrebi French (used in Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia, with strong influences from Arabic)
- Creole French (used in parts of the Caribbean, Louisiana, and some islands in the Indian Ocean).
What’s the history of the language?
The story began around 1,200 years ago, more specifically to the year 842 CE. At least, that’s the year in which the oldest surviving text written in French originates. The Serments de Strasbourg, often hailed as the oldest preserved French document, was actually written in two languages, notably Old French and Tudesque, or Old High German. What makes this text particularly noteworthy is the fact that it marked a shift away from Latin, which up until that point, had been the language of intellectual and religious domains.
Old French evolved directly from Vulgar Latin (the name given to Latin’s spoken form, now obsolete), as the Roman Empire expanded across Europe. Over time, these romance languages (the name given to all the regional variations that emerged from the Roman Empire’s expansion) developed their own characteristics and eventually transformed into some of the European languages we know today, such as French, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, and Romanian.
Today’s French language bears little resemblance to Romance, which underwent various changes in the interim. Transitioning from Old French (the very earliest form of the language) to Middle French by the early 14th century, the language bore traces of Norman influence with various English words creeping in. This period was crucial in the language’s history, as it coincided with the establishment of the printing press. This meant the language became more standardized in its written form, and fewer changes took place.
Fast forward 300 years to the year 1635, when the Académie Française (French Academy) was founded, thanks to Cardinal Richelieu – Louis XIII’s chief minister. This institution established rules relating to spelling and grammar, which became the foundation of today’s standardized French language – Modern French.
What are the challenges of translating French into English?
Translating a language shaped by its complex history and cultural subtleties comes with its fair share of challenges. French has many distinctive features, such as its gendered nouns and use of tenses like the subjunctive, which are rarely used in English today.
However, one of the more nuanced challenges with French-to-English translation stems from the fact that French often expresses ideas with nouns and abstract language, whereas, in English, the same idea would use a verb. A word-for-word translation will convey the meaning, but it won’t sound natural to an English audience; the translator’s job is to “de-Frenchify” the language!
This ties in with a longstanding cultural preference for longer, more complex sentences in French. In English, on the other hand, concise sentences are more common, which means the translator must often rework the sentence structure, or even divide the original into multiple sentences. Thankfully, Capital Linguists’ French translation services comprise experts with a profound knowledge of the French language, along with its many regional variants and subtle turns of phrase that make it so fascinating. The team also includes professionals with a wealth of expertise in diverse sectors, such as translators specializing in legal French and others with a background in healthcare.
How easy is French to interpret?
While translating written French may require the linguist to grapple with complex, wordy sentences, the challenges facing a French interpreter are somewhat different. One of the key skills needed for successful interpreting lies in the linguist’s ability to forge mutual understanding between the two parties. This means using the most appropriate vocabulary and tone and being aware of the different social contexts. For instance, interpreting French for a Belgian audience may involve the use of different terms for Senegalese French speakers or those from Quebec. Our experienced interpreters are sensitive to these aspects, adapting the message to the audience and context, while ensuring its accuracy.
Today, French plays an important role across diverse sectors, influencing the world of international relations as well as many cultural spheres. If you need to ensure perfect French, whatever the context or purpose, the team at Capital Linguists would be delighted to help! A bientôt!
