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What is "La Francophonie"?
Over 160 million people in 49 different countries are French-speaking. In addition to its importance in Europe and Canada, French is the official language of 31 African countries. In the United States, it is spoken both in Louisiana as well as throughout the New England States. French is also one of the official languages of many international organizations (United Nations, UNESCO, OCDE, etc.) and is the most translated language in the world after English. Along with Italian, it is the diplomatic language of the Vatican. French is also the official language of the Olympic Games, in honor of Pierre de Coubertin, the creator of the modern Olympics. French is truly a global language. Continue to visit this page for new topics of interest and useful links. |
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Although this word first appeared around the 1880's, it came into common usage during the 1960's. It derives from the word "Francophone" which refers to the assembly of people who speak French either as their native language or as a secondary language. The Francophonie Flag signifies the unity of French-speaking people around the world.