French: Difference between revisions
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==The People== |
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The '''French''' are the people who live in [[France]]. What exactly one means by "France" can vary quite a bit depending on what year it is and who's talking. |
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==Language== |
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'''French''' is the [[language]] that developed in northern [[France]], and parts of [[Belgium]] and [[Switzerland]] and derived from a mixture of [[Latin]], [[Frankish]] and [[Gaulish]]. |
'''French''' is the [[language]] that developed in northern [[France]], and parts of [[Belgium]] and [[Switzerland]] and derived from a mixture of [[Latin]], [[Frankish]] and [[Gaulish]]. |
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The earliest extant French text is [[The Oath of Strasbourg]], from 842 [[CE]]. The dialects of ''Old French'' are called collectively [[langue d'oil]]. ''Middle French'' developed around the end of the [[13th century]], and saw the end of the declension system. |
The earliest extant French text is [[The Oath of Strasbourg]], from 842 [[CE]]. The dialects of ''Old French'' are called collectively [[langue d'oil]]. ''Middle French'' developed around the end of the [[13th century]], and saw the end of the declension system. |
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[[Latin]] was still used as the official [[court]] language of France until [[King]] [[Francis I]] passed the Ordinance of Villers- |
[[Latin]] was still used as the official [[court]] language of France until [[King]] [[Francis I]] passed the Ordinance of Villers-Cotter�ts in 1539. |
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French is now a widely-used language in Western Europe and is one of the five official languages of the European Union. |
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==See Also== |
==See Also== |
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Latest revision as of 04:50, 8 November 2006
The People
The French are the people who live in France. What exactly one means by "France" can vary quite a bit depending on what year it is and who's talking.
Language
French is the language that developed in northern France, and parts of Belgium and Switzerland and derived from a mixture of Latin, Frankish and Gaulish.
The earliest extant French text is The Oath of Strasbourg, from 842 CE. The dialects of Old French are called collectively langue d'oil. Middle French developed around the end of the 13th century, and saw the end of the declension system.
Latin was still used as the official court language of France until King Francis I passed the Ordinance of Villers-Cotter�ts in 1539.
French is now a widely-used language in Western Europe and is one of the five official languages of the European Union.
