Why is the French language soo widely used??

[shinobi108]

The French play no particularly large role in the modern world, France is not one of the economic superpowers of the world. Why then when you look at a world map, something like 30-40% of the world speaks French, it is completely totally dominating Africa almost the entire top half, dominating the middle east, it is growing in Europe soo fast aswell(Belgium is now almost completely francophone, Switzerland is fast becoming a francophonie country, something like 30% of England speaks French as a second language, it is also quite a common second language in both Spain and Italy).

Why does the French language play such an important role in the world, when the French themselves are relatively insignificant in the modern age and France has no important military or economical role in the world.

[squealpiggy]

The French play no particularly large role in the modern world, France is not one of the economic superpowers of the world. Why then when you look at a world map, something like 30-40% of the world speaks French, it is completely totally dominating Africa almost the entire top half, dominating the middle east, it is growing in Europe soo fast aswell(Belgium is now almost completely francophone, Switzerland is fast becoming a francophonie country, something like 30% of England speaks French as a second language, it is also quite a common second language in both Spain and Italy).

Why does the French language play such an important role in the world, when the French themselves are relatively insignificant in the modern age and France has no important military or economical role in the world.

Depends on how you define modernity. Up until the First World War the French had the second biggest empire in the world.

[Funky_Monk]

You do know where the UK, France and Italy are in relation to France!?

[Welsh Jon]

The French play no particularly large role in the modern world, France is not one of the economic superpowers of the world. Why then when you look at a world map, something like 30-40% of the world speaks French, it is completely totally dominating Africa almost the entire top half, dominating the middle east, it is growing in Europe soo fast aswell(Belgium is now almost completely francophone, Switzerland is fast becoming a francophonie country, something like 30% of England speaks French as a second language, it is also quite a common second language in both Spain and Italy).

Why does the French language play such an important role in the world, when the French themselves are relatively insignificant in the modern age and France has no important military or economical role in the world.

Um seriously?

It's widely spoken in Africa because much of the continent used to be French colonies.

Belgium has a land border with France. Switzerland is traditionally split between French speaking, German speaking and Italian speaking regions. France is Britains nearest neighbour. Spain and Italy have land borders with France.

Not sure what the mystery is.

[shinobi108]

Um seriously?

It's widely spoken in Africa because much of the continent used to be French colonies.

Belgium has a land border with France. Switzerland is traditionally split between French speaking, German speaking and Italian speaking regions. France is Britains nearest neighbour. Spain and Italy have land borders with France.

Not sure what the mystery is.

Why French crossing soo many borders? France has more influence on its neighbours than vice versa, in the age we live right now which is not napoleons or the French empires time, what use do these countries have for French language, why don't they just ditch the language all together, use their own languages and English as a second language.

[ИATAS]

Tired of these foreigners in other countries not knowing how to speak American!

[Rostov Papa]

Depends on how you define modernity. Up until the First World War the French had the second biggest empire in the world.

This...

France colonized much of Africa, thus today, the major language in those countries today is French.

In USA, Louisiana is the only state, where law is based in French law, whereas the rest of the country is Anglo-American jurisprudence.

The same can be said for Spain, Portugal, and to a smaller extent Netherlands/Germany - the affects of their colonialism, and empires can still be seen today. Take South Africa, and Namibia (formerly South-West Africa) for example - Afrikaans is a form of Dutch (they were the first Europeans to settle, and the Boer people are of mostly Dutch heritage).

Namibia, which was initially a German colony (taken over by England after WWI, I believe), German is a language very widely spoken to this day, and is a recognized national language. Towns such as Swakopmund, and Walvis Bay are comprised of mostly German speakers. Everything from the food, culture, and language reflects the presence of Germany in the past.

The affects of European colonialism are apparent all over the world - from language to infrastructure, architecture, culture, religion...

As we move closer towards a type I civilization (See Dr. Michio Kaku), and globalism continues to take affect, we will see one language (most likely English) more widely known, and spoken (most of the younger generation in European countries know English, and even in poorer countries where English is not native language, most of the middle class and wealthy of the younger generations know English).

[Razor Ramon]

For hundreds of years they were never out of the top 5 powers of the world, and they spread their language around the world. They're still a powerful country today too, I don't know how you got the idea they aren't, permanent member of the UN security council, member of the G8, one of the best trained and equipped militaries in the world, 3rd biggest economy in Europe etc. etc. etc.

[paulf]

History Lesson; gather 'round children.

French was the language until the end of the second world war, but it had been in a long decline. Back in the day, the French noticed all these foreign words mixing their way into everyday french. They didn't like it. So they created the Académie Française to preserve the French language. That's why French has less than 100,000 words, and only 30,000 common words.

English has over a million.

That, added to the rise of America in the twentieth century, put an end to French as the language of business. But, for hundreds of years before, that was not the case, so French still spoken through out the world.

[StarshipTrooper]

3rd biggest economy in Europe etc. etc. etc.

That's kind of like being the 3rd smartest 'tard in the Special Ed class :hand9: