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1. French
2. 2 French in the world French is a Romance language—a descendent of Latin, along with Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Rumanian, etc. It developed from a dialect of Old French spoken in the territory of Île de France (Paris).
Nowadays French is spoken worldwide.
In Europe:
Belgium, France, Luxembourg, Monaco, Switzerland.
In Africa:
Bénin, Cameroon, Maghreb countries (= Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia), Mali, Senegal, Togo, etc.
In the Americas:
Canada, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Haiti, Martinique, St. Pierre et Miquelon, US (Louisiana, Vermont).
In Asia:
Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam.
3. 3 French is the mother tongue of more than 120 million people
and the second most-commonly taught second language
in the world (after English).
It is an official language in some 30 countries
and one of the 5 official languages of the United Nations.
French speaking countries of the world—pays de la francophonie—form a powerful economic and cultural network (comparable to the Commonwealth); they sponsor research and development and scientific and cultural exchange worldwide.
4. 4 French is the mother tongue of Quebeckers, Acadians,
Franco-Ontarians, Franco-Manitobans and Fransascois—close to 7 million people,
or 22% of the total population of Canada.
It is taught as a second language across the country.
It is one of the two official languages of Canada
(along with English): all Canadian institutions—Parliament, Government Agencies, etc.—are bilingual. French in Canada
5. 5 The influence of French language and culture: the case of English Historically, English borrowed 70% of its vocabulary from French.
Here are some of the old borrowings that are now part of the English language:
[kinship terms] aunt, cousin, nephew, niece, uncle...
[foods] biscuit, mutton, pork, potage, prune, raisin, veal, vinegar...
[architecture] ceiling, chamber, chimney, palace, square, tower...
[furniture] carpet, chair, curtain, cushion, lamp, lantern, table...
[abstract terms] glory, memory, victory...
Etc.
6. 6 French expressions used as is in English:
à propos, Bon appétit!, carte blanche, C’est la vie.,
café au lait, Comme ci comme ça., crêpes, croissants,
déjà vu, haute couture, hors d’oeuvre, raison d’être,
R.S.V.P., touché, voilà, etc.
English expressions bearing a direct reference to French culture:
French bread, French fries, French key, French kiss,
French mustard, French window, take a French leave, etc.
7. 7 France has more Nobel Prize laureates in literature than any other country in the world. Here are some: Albert Camus, André Gide, Anatole France, François Mauriac, Romain Rolland.
It is also one of the top film-making countries in the world. French cinema has produced such mega stars as Jean-Paul Belmondo, Jean-Louis Trintignant, Gérard Dépardieux, Daniel Auteuil, Brigitte Bardot, Catherine Deneuve, Isabelle Adjani, Juliette Binoche, Béatrice Dalle, and so on.
Québec has a vibrant film industry, as well. Thus, the work of these Québecois directors has been internationally acclaimed: Claude Jutra (Mon oncle Antoine, A tout prendre, Kamouraska), Robert Lepage (Confessional, La face cachée de la lune), Denys Arcand (Jésus de Montréal, Le déclin de l’empire américain, Les invasions barbares). French: language of art, fashion and—love
8. 8 France and Belgium are the leading producers of comics
(bande dessinée): Astérix and Tintin are known all over the world.
Paris is one of the world’s fashion capitals: everyone is familiar with fashion lines of Pierre Cardin, Coco Chanel, Christian Dior and Jean Paul Gaultier, to mention just a few.
9. 9 French at Dalhousie Courses in French language, linguistics, literature and culture
Spoken French, Quebec French, French for Business, Cinema: the French phenomenon, Stories and Legends of the Francophone World, Electronic Tools for Teaching French, and many more.
Study abroad programmes
A semester in Dakar (Senegal), a year in Dijon (France)
Certificate of proficiency in French
Social & cultural life
Students’ French society, film screenings, wine & cheese parties,
and a lot more.
www.french.dal.ca
10. 10 Carreers with French Teaching
Language Techologies
Translation & Interpretation
Journalism & Communications
Public Service
International Trade
Business Administration
Tourism
Etc.