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FRENCH LANGUAGES (cont'd)
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"The bond of the French-speaking community is the recognition of an
intangible sovereign: the French language, which shines, splendid, on a
throne of words. It does not dispense justice: it dispenses accuracy."
Maurice Druon, Doyen of the Académie Française, 1987
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57,188,000 (1995). Literacy rate 99%. Also includes Algerian
Arabic 660,000, Moroccan Arabic 492,700 (1984), Tunisian Arabic
212,900 (1984), Armenian 70,000; Western Cham 1,000; Hmong Daw
10,000, Iu Mien 2,000, Kabyle 537,000 (1984), Kurmanji, Lesser
Antillean Creole French 150,000 (1974 MARC), Mandyak, Turkish 135,000
(1984), 10,000 Vietnamese, 34,500 Wolof (1984). French Republic,
République Francaise. Literacy rate 99% (1991 WA). Data
accuracy estimate: A2, B. Christian, secular, Muslim, Jewish. Blind
population 43,000 (1982 WCE). Deaf institutions: 99. The number of
languages listed for France is 27. Of those, 25 are living languages
and 2 are extinct.
ALSATIAN (ALLEMANNISCH,
SCHWYZERDÜTSCH) 1,500,000 in France (J.A. Hawkins in B.
Comrie 1988); 4,225,000 in Switzerland (1986); 300,000 in Austria
(1991 A. Schmid). Southeastern France, Alsace-Lorraine. Also in
southern Germany. Indo-European, Germanic, West, Continental, High.
No standard form of Alsatian, but a variety of village dialects. All
speakers do not necessarily understand or read Standard German, but
most are bilingual in French. Bilingualism in Standard French varies
from 79% to 90% of the population in the different regions. German is
taught in primary schools. Called 'Schwyzerdütsch' in
Switzerland and 'Allemannisch' in Austria and parts of Germany. NT
1984. Bible portions 1936-1986.
AUVERGNAT (AUVERNHAS, AUVERNE,
OCCITAN) Auvergne; Haut-Auvergnat in Cantal and south of
Haute-Loire; Bas-Auvergnat in the north of Haute-Loire and in
Puy-de-Dome. Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western,
Ibero-Romance, North, Eastern. Dialects: HAUT-AUVERGNAT,
BAS-AUVERGNAT. Highly fragmented dialect situation, with limited
intelligibility between northern and southern varieties. Language use
is more vigorous in the south. Bible portions 1831. Survey needed.
BASQUE, NAVARRO-LABOURDIN
(NAVARRO-LABOURDIN) 67,500 speakers (1991), including 45,000
Labourdin, 22,500 Lower Navarro. Total Basque speakers in France
estimated at 80,000 (1991 L. Trask, U. of Sussex). Reported to be
730,000 ethnic Basque in France (1993 Johnstone). French-Spanish
border, 800 square miles surrounding Bayonne, Labourd and
Basse-Navarre departments. Basque. Dialects: LABOURDIN (LAPURDIERA),
EASTERN LOW NAVARRESE (BENAFFARERA, BAJO NAVARRO ORIENTAL), WESTERN
LOW NAVARRESE (BAJO NAVARRO OCCIDENTAL). Lafitte states that
Navarro-Labourdin is the literary dialect used in writing by the
majority of Basque writers in France. Navarro-Labourdin is diverse
from other Basque dialects, and needs separate literature. Speakers
use French as second language. Dictionary. Grammar. Christian. Bible
1856. Bible portions 1856. Work in progress.
BASQUE, SOULETIN (SOULETIN,
SOULETINO, SULETINO, XIBEROERA, ZUBEROERA, SUBEROAN) 8,700
(1991). French-Spanish border, 800 square miles surrounding Bayonne,
Soule, Pyrénées Atlantiques Province. Basque. Souletin
is more diverse and speakers have difficulty understanding other
dialects, especially for complex and abstract discourse. Separate
literature desired and needed, Dictionary. Grammar. Christian. Bible
portions 1856-1888. Work in progress.
BRETON (BREZHONEG) 500,000
speakers for whom it is the daily language in France (1989 ICDBL);
1,200,000 know Breton who do not regularly use it; 32,722 in USA
(1970 census). Western Brittany, but also dispersed in Eastern
Brittany and Breton emigrant communities throughout the world.
Indo-European, Celtic, Insular, Brythonic. Dialects: LEONAIS,
TREGORROIS, VANNETAIS, CORNOUAILLAIS. No official status. 18,000
speakers are children under 14 years; 56,250 between 15 and 24;
423,000 between 25 and 64; 168,000 over 65 (1974). 25% can read and
write Breton. Some claim to be monolingual in Breton. Strong
nationalistic movement demanding recognition, a place in the schools,
media, and public life. There are some radio and television programs.
Bible 1866-1985. NT 1827-1971. Bible portions 1820-1985.
CALÓ (CALO, GITANO,
IBERIAN ROMANI) 10,000 to 20,000 in France; 40,000 to 140,000 in
Spain; 5,000 in Portugal; 10,000 in Latin America; 65,000 to 175,000
in all countries. 100,000 Gypsies in France speak a variety of Romani
as first or second language (1985 Gunnemark and Kenrick). Southern
France. Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western,
Ibero-Romance, North, Central. Dialects: BASQUE CALO, CATALONIAN
CALO, SPANISH CALO. A Gypsy language with an Iberian base. Christian.
Bible portions 1837-1872.
CATALAN-VALENCIAN-BALEAR 260,000 in
France; 4,000,000 in Spain (1994); 31,300 in Andorra (1990); 40,000
in USA; 22,000 in Italy; 4,353,000 or more in all countries.
Catalonian France. Also Latin America, western Europe, Algeria.
Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western,
Ibero-Romance, North, Eastern. Bible 1478-1993. NT 1832-1988. Bible
portions 1928-1985.
CORSICAN (CORSU, CORSO, CORSE,
CORSI) 281,000 in Corsica (1993 Johnstone); 60,000 in Western
Hemisphere (1968 H. Kloss); the in all countries in France's former
colonies and USA is greater than on Corsica (1976 Stephens); 341,000
or more in all countries. Corsica, Paris, Marseilles. Also in Canada,
Puerto Rico, USA, Venezuela, Cuba, Bolivia, Uruguay, Italy.
Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Southern, Corsican. Dialects:
SARTENAIS, VICO-AJACCIO, NORTHERN CORSICAN (CAPE CORS, BASTIA),
VENACO. Corsican is in the Tuscan group of Italian dialects. Southern
Corsican is closer to northern Sardinian or Gallurese than other
Corsican dialects (R. A. Hall, Jr.). Dialects of Bastia, Venaco,
Vico, and Sartene have 79% to 89% lexical similarity. Bonifacio on
the southern tip of Island has 78% lexical similarity (highest) with
Bastia at extreme north. Ajaccio dialect is central and prestigious.
Corsican has been recognized as a separate language by the French
government. Speakers are bilingual in French but many are not fluent
in it. There is a movement for bilingual education. Bible portions
1861-1994. Work in progress.
DUTCH (FLEMISH) 90,000 in
Westhoek (1976 Stephens); 20,000,000 to 21,000,000 in all countries.
Westhoek in the northeast corner of France between the Artois Hills
and the Belgium border. Also Netherlands, Netherlands Antilles,
Belgium, Surinam, USA. Indo-European, Germanic, West, Continental,
Low, Dutch. Not used in schools. Flemish is a co-dialect with Dutch,
but not a separate language. Bible 1522-1988. NT 1480-1992. Bible
portions 1477-1986.
FRANCO-PROVENÇAL (70,000 in
Italy; 1971). Near the Italian border. Also in Canton de Vaud,
Switzerland. Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western,
Gallo-Romance, North. Dialects: DAUPHINOIS, LYONNAIS, NEUCATELAIS,
SAVOYARD, VALAISIEN, VAUDOIS, FAETO, CELLE S. VITO. Structurally
separate language from Provençal, French, Piemontese, and
Lombard (F. B. Agard). Bible portions 1830. Survey needed.
FRENCH (FRANÇAIS)
51,000,000 first language speakers in France; 6,000,000 in Canada
(1988); 1,100,000 in USA (1989); 40,000 in Israel; 72,000,000 in all
countries, mother tongue (1995 WA); 124,000,000 in all countries
including second language speakers (1995 WA). Also in Belgium,
Switzerland, Italy, Haiti, French Guiana, Monaco, Austria, Africa,
Southwest Asia, French Polynesia, other former colonies.
Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western,
Gallo-Romance, North. Dialects: STANDARD FRENCH, NORMAN, PICARD
(ROUCHI, CHTIMI), WALLON, ANGEVIN, BERRICHON, BOURBONNAIS,
BOURGIGNON, FRANC-COMTOIS, GALLOT, LORRAINE, POITEVIN, SANTONGEAIS.
89% lexical similarity with Italian, 80% with Sardinian, 78% with
Rheto-Romance, 75% with Portuguese, Rumanian, and Spanish, 29% with
German, 27% with English. National language. Typology: SVO.
Christian. Braille Bible. Braille Scripture in progress. Bible
1530-1995. NT 1474-1990. Bible portions 1483-1989.
FRENCH SIGN LANGUAGE (LANGUE DES
SIGNES FRANÇAISE, LSF, FSL) 50,000 to 100,000 primary
users in France (1986 Gallaudet Univ.) 1,000 users of Marseille Sign
Language (1975 Sallagoïty). Southern FSL is used in Marseille,
Toulon, La Ciotat, and Salon de Provence. FSL is also in Togo. Deaf
sign language. Dialect: MARSEILLE SIGN LANGUAGE (SOUTHERN FRENCH SIGN
LANGUAGE). First sign language in the western world to gain
recognition as a language (1830). Originated in 1752. Sign languages
were known in France in the 16th century, and probably earlier. Many
sign languages have been influenced by this, but are not necessarily
intelligible with it. Reported to be partially intelligible with sign
languages from Austria, Czechoslovakia, and Italy, at least. 43%
lexical similarity with American Sign Language in an 872-word list.
Distinct from Signed French and Old French Sign Language.
GASCON (OCCITAN) 250,000 in
all countries speakers (1990 P. Blanchet); including 4,800 Aranese in
Spain (1984 census). The population in the Bearn region of southern
Gasconha, France, is 400,000 (1992). 51% speak the language, 70%
understand it, 85% are in favor of doing something to save it.
Gascogne Province, from Médoc to the Pyrénées,
from the Atlantic to the Catalan area. Biarnese is spoken by a strong
majority in the Biarn. Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western,
Western, Ibero-Romance, North, Eastern. Dialects: LANDAIS,
BÉARNAIS (BIARNESE), ARIÉGEOIS, ARANESE. Gascon,
Occitan (Languedocien), and Limousin are structurally separate
languages (F.B. Agard). Some intelligibility of Provençal;
Gascon has some or limited intelligibility of Languedocien (reports
differ). Inherently intelligible with Aranese in Spain, which is a
dialect. Called 'Aranese Gascon' is Spain. Bible portions 1583-1983.
Work in progress.
GREEK 12,000,000 in all countries
(1995 WA). Corsica. Also in Greece, Turkey, Cyprus, Egypt, Italy,
Romania, Albania, Russia, USA, Canada, Australia. Indo-European,
Greek, Attic. Dialect: CARGESE. There are few, if any, who do not
know French (R.A. Hall, Jr., 1978 personal communication). The Greek
of Italy and that of Corsica are probably separate languages (R.
Zamponi 1992). Bible 1840-1994. NT 1638-1989. Bible portions
1547-1949.
ITALIAN 1,000,000 in France (1977
Voegelin and Voegelin); 40,000,000 in all countries. Also in Italy,
Ethiopia, Egypt, USA, Australia. Indo-European, Italic, Romance,
Italo-Western, Italo-Romance. Few, if any, speakers of Italian
dialects in France do not know French. Bible 1471-1985. NT 1530-1981.
Bible portions 1531-1984.
LANGUEDOCIEN (LENGADOUCIAN,
LANGUEDOC, LANGADOC, OCCITAN, OCCITANI) Fluent speakers are 10%
of the population in the region. About 20% more have some knowledge
of it. Languedoc Province, from Montpellier to Toulouse, Bordeaux,
Rodez, and Albi. Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western,
Western, Ibero-Romance, North, Eastern. Dialects: BAS-LANGUEDOCIEN,
LANGUEDOCIEN MOYEN, HAUT-LANGUEDOCIEN, GUYENNAIS. A separate language
from Provençal (P. Blanchet 1990). Gascon has limited
intelligibility of Languedocien. Attempts to standardize Languedocien
for all languages of southern France have not been accepted by
speakers of those languages. Toulousse orthography is different from
Ron. Mainly spoken in rural communities by people over 50. Everyone
speaks French as first or second language. Bible portions 1888.
Survey needed.
LIGURIAN (LIGURE) (1,853,578
in Italy; 1976; 5,100 in Monaco; 1980). Bonifacio, Corsica.
Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western,
Gallo-Romance, Ligurian. Dialect: GENOESE (GENOAN, GENOVESE). Bible
portions 1860. Survey needed.
LIMOUSIN (LEMOSIN, OCCITAN)
Spoken by 10% to 20% of the population of the region. Limousin
Province. Haut-Limousin around Limoges, Guéret, and Nontron in
Charente; Bas-Limousin around Correze and Périgord.
Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western,
Ibero-Romance, North, Eastern. Dialects: HAUT-LIMOUSIN, BAS-LIMOUSIN.
Limousin, Occitan, and Gascon are structurally separate languages
(F.B. Agard). Partially intelligible to Provençal. People
speak French as first or second language. In the north of the
province people use a transition dialect with certain Oïl
features. Survey needed.
LYONS SIGN LANGUAGE Deaf sign
language. 250 miles from Paris, but difficult and little
intelligibility with French Sign Language. Survey needed.
PORTUGUESE 750,000 in France (1989
National Geographic); 170,000,000 in all countries (1995 WA).
Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western,
Ibero-Romance, North, Western. Illiteracy is a problem. Bible 1751,
in press (1993). NT 1681-1982. Bible portions 1505-1951.
PROVENÇAL
(PROUVENÇAU, OCCITAN) 250,000 fluent speakers in
France; 800,000 with some knowledge (1990 P. Blanchet); 100,000
speakers of all ages of Transalpin dialect in Italy (1990); 4,500 in
Monaco (1988); 354,500 in all countries. Southeastern France,
province of Provence, south of Dauphiné, region of Nimes in
Languedoc. Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western,
Ibero-Romance, North, Eastern. Dialects: TRANSALPIN, NIÇARD
(NIÇOIS), MARITIME PROVENÇAL (MARSEILLAIS, TOULONNAIS,
VAROIS), GAVOT (ALPIN, VALEIEN, GAPIAN, FORCALQUIEREN), RHODANIEN
(NIMOIS), DAUPHINOIS (DROMOIS). Gascon, Occitan, and Limousin are
structurally separate languages (F. Agard). Provençal and
Languedocien (Occitan) are separate languages (P. Blanchet 1990). No
variety is universally accepted as the standard literary form. Two
orthographies in use: Ron and Toulousse. Niçard and Northern
Gavot (Valeien and Gapian) are more difficult for other dialect
speakers to understand. Through increased contact in army and school,
most speakers are actively bilingual in French. Most speakers are
above 50 years old. Literary French is sometimes difficult for
speakers with less school education. Regional French has a lot of
Provençal influence. There is regional pride and increasing
status as a literary language. Strong demand for teaching in school
and books in Provençal. Bible portions 1824-1975. Work in
progress.
ROMANI, BALKAN 10,500 in France,
including 10,000 Arlija, 500 Dzambazi; 1,000,000 in all countries
(1980 UBS). Also Yugoslavia, Bulgaria, Greece, Turkey, Iran, Germany,
Italy, Romania, Hungary, Moldova, Ukraine. Indo-European,
Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Central zone, Romani, Balkan. Dialects:
ARLIJA, DZAMBAZI. A Gypsy language. Muslim. Bible portions 1912-1937.
Work in progress.
ROMANI, SINTE (SINTI, ROMMANES,
TSIGANE, MANUCHE, MANOUCHE) 10,000 to 30,000 in France; 200,000
in all countries (1980 Kenrick); 100,000 to 150,000 all Romani
language speakers in France (1984). Also in Germany, Austria, Italy,
Yugoslavia, Netherlands, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Kazakhstan. The
Manouche are mainly in France, but also in northern Italy and the
Netherlands. Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Central zone,
Romani, Northern. Dialect: MANOUCHE (MANUCHE, MANUSH). Not
intelligible with Vlach Romani. A Gypsy language. Ethnic group:
Sasítka Romá. Christian. Bible portions 1875-1930. Work
in progress.
ROMANI, VLACH (ROMENES, ROM,
TSIGANE) 10,000 in France, including 8,000 Kalderash, 2,000
Lovari; 1,500,000 in all countries (1986 estimate). Also in Romania,
Poland, Hungary, Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, Slovakia, Ukraine,
Portugal, Spain, Norway, Sweden, England, Italy, Netherlands,
Germany, Argentina, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Brazil, Colombia, USA.
Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Central zone, Romani, Vlax.
Dialects: KALDERASH, LOVARI. Vlach and Kalderash are understood by
the Lovari. A Gypsy language. Christian. NT 1984-1995. Bible portions
1930-1986.
SHUADIT (SHUADI,
JUDEO-PROVENÇAL, JUDEO-COMTADINE) Department of Vaucluse
in southern France, and city of Avignon. Indo-European, Italic,
Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Ibero-Romance, North, Eastern. It
became extinct in 1977. May still be used in Passover song. Jewish.
SPANISH (CASTILIAN)
266,000,00 in all countries (1987 Time). Indo-European, Italic,
Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Ibero-Romance, North, Central. Bible
1553-1979. NT 1543-1986. Bible portions 1514-1985.
ZARPHATIC (JUDEO-FRENCH)
Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western,
Gallo-Romance, North. Jewish. Extinct.
Part of the Ethnologue, 13th Edition, Barbara F.
Grimes, Editor.
Copyright © 1996, Summer Institute of Linguistics, Inc. All
rights reserved.
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