French or Francais, a Romance language, is spoken by approximately 98 million people and is the official second language of the European Union. It is the ninth most spoken language in the world. French writing can be dated back to the Strasbourg Oaths of 842. As French settlers moved to various world regions, new versions of the French language evolved. Canada, where French is the official second language, developed its own version of the language called French Canadian. Another version called Cajun French developed over time in Louisiana, where French has been the official second language since 1968.
The French language contains many similar elements to the English language, and French words are incorporated into the English language continually, some of which are: sabotage, fiancé, cuisine, blasé, and chic. Grammatical features of the French language include: gender is distinguished by articles or adjectives; verbs can be conjugated in three persons, singular and plural; and verb forms indicate indicative, imperative, and subjunctive moods. One of the unique features of the French language is its phonology (pattern of speech sounds). For instance, the word "voice" in French is voix, but is pronounced vwa.
French literature is one of the most prominent in the world dating back to the ninth century A.D. Renowned French writers include Montaigne, Racine, Voltaire, Rousseau, Victor Hugo, and Sartre.
Countries in Which French is the Primary Language:
Europe - Belgium, France, Switzerland; South Pacific - French Polynesia (Tahiti), New Caledonia, Vanuatu; French West Indies - Guadeloupe, Haiti, Martinique; Africa - Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Gabon, Guinea, Madagascar, Mali, Morocco, Niger, Senegal, Seychelles, Togo, Zaire; South America - French Guiana; Regions of Canada.
Career Opportunities:
Numerous career opportunities exist for individuals who possess a proficiency of the French language. Possible career fields may include: international organizations, tourism, education, international management, teaching, and Diplomacy (Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade).
Program Administrators: Click HERE to add, delete, or update listings.
