History of the French Language
The French language, known as le français, is a Romance language that originated in what is now France. It is one of the most spoken languages in the world, with over 220 million speakers worldwide.
Origins
The French language has its roots in Latin, specifically Vulgar Latin, which was the Latin spoken by the people and soldiers of the Roman Empire. When the Romans conquered Gaul (modern France) in the 1st century BC, Vulgar Latin began to influence the Celtic languages spoken in the region.
Development of Old French
With the fall of the Roman Empire in the 5th century AD, Gaul was invaded by Germanic tribes, including the Franks, after whom France takes its name. The lingua franca, however, continued to be a form of Latin, which evolved into what is known as Old French between the 9th and 14th centuries.
Middle and Modern French
Middle French, spoken between the 14th and 16th centuries, saw the language become closer to the French we know today. During this period, the language was influenced by the Renaissance, a period of great change and innovation in Europe.
With the French Revolution at the end of the 18th century, French became the official language of France. During the 19th century, French colonial expansion spread the language to many parts of the world.
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French Contemporary
The contemporary French language continues to develop and change. It is one of the six official languages of the United Nations and is spoken on every continent. French is also the second most studied language in the world after English.
Conclusion
The French language has a long and rich history, shaped by achievement, innovation and expansion. Its global influence and status as one of the world's leading languages make French an important and relevant language to learn today.
