Why did the French language spread around the world?

As such, the Franks ensured the Gallo-Roman population became merged with the German settlers, and from this mixing pot of Germanic, Celtic and (predominantly) Latin roots, the French language emerged.

How has French language changed over time?

Like other languages, French continues to evolve. It was further influenced by English, Italian and Greek, with English having the most influence in modern-day le français. Different dialects and variations of French exist, with Parisian French becoming the model of the language of the French people.

Is the French language increasing?

French is a fast-growing language At the moment, around 75 million people speak French as a first language, but there are reports that by 2050, as many as 750 million people will speak the lingo.

When did French spread around the world?

Indeed, French colonialism spread the French language to many regions in the 16th and 17th centuries. The Quebec region of Canada was a French colony from 1534 to 1760, but a series of wars caused France to lose most of its colonies in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.

How important is the French language in the world?

French is a major language of international communication. It is the second most widely learned language after English and the sixth most widely spoken language in the world. French is also the second most widely taught language after English, and is taught on every continent.

What will be the most common language in 2050?

A 2014 study by the investment bank Natixis even predicted that French would become the world’s most widely spoken language by 2050. The authors of the study referred to were demographic growth prospects in Africa. “French is also widespread in many smaller countries,” Ammon said.

How did France become a French speaking country?

It descended from the Vulgar Latin of the Roman Empire, as did all Romance languages. French evolved from Gallo-Romance, the Latin spoken in Gaul, and more specifically in Northern Gaul. Today, owing to France’s past overseas expansion, there are numerous French-based creole languages, most notably Haitian Creole.

How did the French language spread throughout the world?

French language spread into the world because of colonization, like every other European language (English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Dutch, etc…) There was a time, during the industrial revolution (19th century) when Europe went into mass production and heavy industry. England was the first to become very industrialized.

Where is French spoken in the world?

French is also taught as a foreign language in many countries. The most important distribution areas within Europe are, besides France itself, Switzerland, Belgium, Luxembourg and Monaco. There are also large parts of Africa, Oceania, the Caribbean and the islands in the Indian Ocean. Origins of the French language

How many countries speak French as a mother tongue?

French is the official language in 39 countries and is partly spoken as mother tongue in 7 other countries. The French language (native name: français, langue française) has its roots in the Indo-European language family. With a share of around 94\%, it is most widespread in France.

What percentage of the population of Canada speaks French?

It is the first language of 9.5 million people or 29\% and the second language for 2.07 million or 6\% of the entire population of Canada. French is the sole official language in the province of Quebec, being the mother tongue for some 7 million people, or almost 80\% (2006 Census) of the province.