French Language
Origins and Popularity of the French Language
The French Language is a Latin based Romance language originally spoken in the countries of France, Belgium, Switzerland, and Luxembourg. Today it is estimated that around 300 million people speak French either as a native speaker or as a second language.
For many years French was the language of diplomacy and served as the common language between governments and still serves as an official or administrative language for a large number of international organizations, commissons, committee's, councils, and the United Nations.
French Language Geographic Distribution
Where the French Language is Spoken
In the United States, French is the second most spoken language in the states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Louisiana.
The French Language is the official language in 41 countires with an additional 10 containing significant populations that speak French.
French is spoken in France, Burundi, Canada, United States, Switzerland, Belgium, Luxembourg, Monaco, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Niger, Senegal, Haiti, Lebanon, Vietnam, Central African Republic, Chad, Madagascar, Cameroon, Gabon, the U.S States of: Louisiana, and Maine, the French Overseas departments of: Martinique, Guadeloupe, Réunion, French Guiana, the French Overseas collectivities of: French Polynesia, Mayotte, Saint Barthelemy, Saint Martin, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Wallis and Futuna, the French Overseas territory: New Caledonia. The French Southern and Antarctic Lands, the British Crown Dependencies: Jersey and Guernsey.