Interesting Facts About French Language
1. Official Language
French is succeeding only after the English for the number of countries where it has official status. French is considered an official language in 29 Countries whereas English is one of the official languages in 67 countries. In countries such as France, Belgium, Canada, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Congo, Mali, and Senegal, the French language is considered as an official language.
2. French Speakers
Around 80 million out of 300 million French speakers are vernacular. As well as the 80 million vernacular French speakers in the world, there are approximately 220 million partial speakers, and these numbers are escalating.
3. Words of French Origin
According to a rough estimation, around 30% of modern English words are of French origin. After the Norman trouncing of England in 1066, French became the dialect of the high society and administration, which resulted in a great number of French words and expressions being incorporated into English.
4. Second Largest French Speaking City
Kinshasa, the capital of The Democratic Republic of Congo, is the second-largest French-speaking city after Paris, followed by Montreal in Quebec, Canada, and Brussels.
5. Numbers in French
Every dialect approaches numbers in their own, prominent way, but with French, it can be extremely interesting, especially between 80 and 99. While in English french language institute you would say “eighty”, in French you would say, “quatre-vingts”, or “four twenties”. It gets really interesting when you reach 99. Instead of saying, ninety-nine, you would say, “quatre-vingt-dix-neuf” or “four twenties, ten, nine.”
6. Language of Romance
French is a Romantic language that came down from Latin, with influences across the centuries from the Celts, the Romans, and the Vikings.
7. Dialect of Literature
French is a dialect of literature. You’re as likely as familiar with Les Misérables but are you aware that some of the most renowned children’s fairy tales were originally written french language courses in French as well? Think La Belle et la Bête (Beauty and the Beast), Le Petit Chaperon Rouge (Little Red Riding Hood), Le Chat Botté (Puss in Boots), Cendrillon (Cinderella), La Barbe Bleue (Bluebeard), and La Belle au Bois dormant (The Sleeping Beauty).
8. Many of the famous faces speak French as well.
When you think of Bradley Cooper, we get a perception of a talented actor (and singer), but are you aware of him speaking French? Not only him, but there are also many others who speak French the list includes Jodie Foster, Johnny Depp, Serena Williams, and Emma Watson.
