Francophonie: Where is French Spoken? L'alphabet Francais and More

Le Français en Amérique et Ailleurs

Le Français en Amérique : Quand on parle de Francophonie, on parle des pays où on parle Français.  Dans le contexte des Amériques, il s’agit du Canada, spécifiquement le Québec, le Nouveau-Brunswick, Manitoba, Ile-du-Prince-Edouard, Nouvelle-Ecosse, les Territoires du Nord-Ouest etc, Haïti et les territoires d’outre mer Français tels que la Guadeloupe et la Martinique. La Francophonie va plus loin de ça.  Quand on parle de Francophonie, on voit l’Europe, le Moyen Orient, et l’Afrique.  Sur le continent Européen, les pays Francophones sont la France, la Belgique, et la Suisse.  En Afrique, on trouve le Sénégal, le Maroc, le Mali, la Côte d’Ivoire, La République du Congo, le Rwanda, le Niger, le Tchad, l’Algérie, la Tunisie et le Cameroun.  Un francophone est une personne qui parle Français.  Un pays Francophone, c’est un pays où on parle Français. Mais il y beaucoup plus de personnes qui utilisent le Français quotidiennement. En tant qu’une langue officielle, le Français est la langue de l’éducation et du gouvernement.  Il est aussi une langue maternelle, a lingua franca.  C’est aussi une langue du commerce et de la diplomatie.  C’est la deuxième langue la plus enseignée après l’Anglais.  On estime que plus de 115 million de personnes parlent Français chaque jour et dans leurs activités personnelles et quotidiennes.

French in the Americas and Beyond

French in the Americas:  When we speak about Francophonie, we speak about countries where French is spoken.  In the context of the Americas, we are talking about Canada or specially Quebec, le New Brunswick, Manitoba, Prince Edouard Island, Nova Scotia, Northwest Territories etc (Le Pays, Statistique Canada 93-102).1986 census).,  Haiti, and the French Overseas territories such as Guadeloupe and Martinique.  Francophonie goes beyond that.  When we speak about Francophonie, we see Europe, Middle East and Africa.  On the European continent, the Francophone countries are France, Belgium, and Switzerland.  In Africa, we find Senegal, Maroc, Mali, Ivory Coast, Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Niger, Tchad, Algeria, Tunisia, and Cameroun. A Francophone is somebody who speaks French.  A Francophone country is a nation where French is spoken.  But there are many more people who use French on a daily basis.  As an official language, French is the second most taught second language after English.  They estimate that more than 115 million people speak French every day and in their daily personal activities. 

L’Alphabet Français d’après L’Association Phonétique Internationale (API) or IPA, International Phonetic Association :

L’alphabet francais (French Alphabet)

a [a]     h [aS]   o [o]    v [ve]
b [be]   i [i]       p [pe]   w [du bl@ ve]
c [se]    j [Zi]     q [ky]   x [iks]
d [de]   k [ka]    r [Er]    y [i grEk]
e [@]    l [El]     s [Es]   z [zEd]
f [Ef]    m [Em]  t [te]
g [Ze]   n [En]   u [y]

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French Spelling:  You too can spell in French

(é) e accent aigu

(è) e accent grave

(ê) e accent circonflexe

(ç) cedille

(ë) Tréma

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Ecoutez et Répétez ces mots :

Pratiquons le son : ch

Chat (m.), Chatte (fem.) – Cat (Kreyòl : chat)

Charmant (adj.) – Charming (Kreyol: bwòdè)

Chameau (m.) – Camel (Kreyòl: Chamo)

Cher (adj.)  - Expensive (Kreyòl: Chè)

Achète (verb) – Buy (Kreyòl: Achte)

Chemise (feminine noun) – Shirt (Kreyòl: Chemiz)

Chose (fem. Noun) – Thing (Kreyòl: Bagay)

Chocolat (masculine noun) – Chocolate (Kreyòl: Chokola)

Chou (m. noun) – Cabbage  (Kreyòl: Chou)

Marché (m. noun) – Market (Kreyòl: Mache)

Poche (fem. Noun) – Pocket (Kreyòl: Pòch)

Chemin (m. noun) – Way (Kreyòl: Chemen)

Changer (verb) – to Change (Kreyòl: Chanje)

Here are a few exceptions: Ch is pronounced like ‘K.”

Choeur  - Chorus; Choléra – Cholera; Orchestre – Orchestra; Psychanalyse – Psychanalysis; Psychologie – Psychology; Psychiatrie – Psychiatry; écho – echo ; archaïc – archaic, old, ancient ; archange – archangel etc.

Ecoutez et Répétez ces mots :

Let’s practice the ‘gn’ sound : /ɲ/ 

Digne – worthy; Espagne – Spain; Pologne – Poland; Allemagne – Germany; Compagnie – Company; Campagne – Countryside; Cognac – Cognac;

Let’s practice the ‘th’ sound /t/

Sympathique – Sympathetic; Gothique – Gothic; mathématiques – mathematics ; Théologie – Theology ; Pathétique – Pathetic ; Théatre – Theater ; Bibliothèque – Library ;

Dialogue-Building Vocabulary :

Salut ! – Hi (informal greeting)

Madame – Mrs, Ma’am

Monsieur – Mr. Sir

Ça va? – How are you ? (informal greeting)

Comment ça va? - How are you? (informal greeting)

Comment vas- tu? -  How are you? (informal greeting)

Comment allez-vous? – How are you? (formal greeting)

Ça va – O.K.

Ça va bien.  Ça va mal – Good / bad

Comme ci, comme ça – So, so

Merci – Thank you

Et vous ? Et toi ? – And you ?

Au revoir – Goodbye !

A demain ! – See you tomorrow !

Bonjour! – Hello

Bonsoir! - Good afternoon, Salut!

Se presenter – to introduce onself

Présentez-vous – Introduce yourself

Se serer la main – to shake hands

Comment t’appelles-tu? – What’s your name? (informal)

Comment vous appelez-vous? – What’s your name ? (formal)

Enchanté (e) – Pleased to meet you

Notes Culturelles: La Bise, le Bisou – The Famous Kiss !

While men shake hands, women tend to kiss each other in French-speaking countries.  Yes, people gently kiss each other on the cheek or shake hands when they meet.  As they leave, people also kiss or give a handshake.  Le bisou usually starts on the right cheek.  The number of kisses may vary depending on your relationship and the warmth of your encounter.  In French-speaking countries, the space between the speakers is also shorter.  That is very different in English-speaking countries. 

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Brief Conversation:  Greetings

Jean:  Bonjour

Pierre:  Bonjour, Monsieur.

Jean:  Je m’appelle Jean Romain.  Comment vous appelez-vous, Monsieur ?

Pierre :  Je m’appelle Pierre Sylvain.  Je suis votre professeur de Francais

Tiffani :  Je m’appelle Tiffani Cator. 

Pierre Sylvain :  Comment allez-vous ?

Jean :  Très bien, merci.

Pierre Sylvain :  Et vous, Madame, comment vous appelez-vous ?

Lise : Je m’appelle Elizabeth DeGaule.  Mes amis m’appellent Lise

Pierre Sylvain :  Comment allez-vous ?

Lise :  Pas mal, merci.  Et vous ?

Pierre Sylvain :  Je vais bien, merci.

(This is the end of this class.  The teacher is dismissing the class.  The students are getting ready to leave)

Pierre Sylvain:  A demain, classe! Au revoir.  A plus tard. A bientôt.  Bonsoir, élèves!

Notes:  Written with lowercase, “à” would have an “accent grave.” It does not need it since it is in uppercase here. 

A demain, classe! (See you tomorrow, class). Au revoir – Bye bye.  A plus tard – See you later. A bientôt – see you soon.  Bonsoir – Good evening, élèves (students)!

Let us pretend that Jacques and Francois are two good friends who are engaged in a conversation.  Personal pronoun “tu” is going to be used instead of the more formal “vous.”

Here is a sample of a dialogue among friends:

Jacques:  Salut! – Hello (Kreyòl : Alo)

François:  Salut! – Hello (Kreyòl : Alo)

Jacques:  Je m’appelle Jacques.  Comment t’appelles-tu? – My name is Jacques.  What’s your name ?

(Kreyòl : M rele Jak.  Kòman ou rele ? )

François: Je m’appelle François.  – My name is Francois – (Kreyòl : M rele Franswa)

Jacques:  Comment ça va ?  - How are you doing ? (Kreyòl : Sa-k Pase ?)

François :  ça va bien, merci.  Et toi ? I am doing well and you ? (Kreyòl :Sa va byen.  E ou menm?)

Jacques :  Comme ci, comme ça . – So, so. (Kreyòl : Pa pi byen ni pi mal or Nèg ap gade san pran)

French Lesson Notes: 

Greet others with “Bonjour,” “Salut,” in the morning or when parting or “Bonsoir” in the evening.

If you are talking to your friend, use the informal personal pronoun “tu” instead of the more formal “vous.”

Summary: We have just seen that a formal exchange requesting the use of “vous” can occur between a teacher and students.  Use “Vous” when you meet somebody for the first time and for whom you want to show respect or deference. When talking to your teacher, you will use “vous.”  Furthermore “Vous” is also used when addressing a group or more than one person.  Vous is plural in this case.  Informal exchanges requiring the use of “tu” occur between friends or students as in (student/student). Use “Tu” in an informal way when addressing a friend, a child, a member of your family, an animal, a pet or anyone in a context that lends itself to informality.  For example, students and siblings can use tu when talking to each other.

Let’s take a look at French Subject Personal Pronouns while conjugating the verb “être.”

First, French Subject Pronouns:

Je, J’ – I (Kreyòl – long form : Mwen, short form : M)

Tu – You (Kreyòl – ou)

il – he / it (Kreyòl – Li)

elle – she/it (Kreyòl – Li)

on – one/people (Kreyòl – Moun)

Nous – We (Kreyòl – Nou)

Vous – You (Kreyòl – Nou)

Ils – They (masculine) (Kreyòl – Yo)

Elles – They (feminine) (Kreyòl – Yo)

Etre – To Be:  Let’s conjugate this verb.

Je suis - I am

Tu es – You are

il, elle, on est – he, she, one is

Nous sommes – We are

Vous êtes – You are

ils, elles sont – They are

Practice Now : Pratiquez Maintenant

Exercice : Exercise : Egzèsis :  Use this list of adjectives to ask questions using ‘Vous’ ‘Tu’ and Etre.  Start with your impression or belief of the person’s personality or character.  Start with “Je pense que (I think) or Je crois que (I believe)….

Beau, belles, bel, joli, sympathique, jeune, optimiste, élegant, fatigué, riches, blonds, malades, pauvre, modestes, intelligent, absente, modestes, patiente, patient, responsable, intolérant, arrogant, brune, brun, grand, grande, petit, petite, tolérant, sociable, dynamique, heureux, gros, pressé, occupé, intéressant, amusant, indépendant, poli, aimable, présent, épatant, active, actif, stupide, drôle etc.

Asking Questions in French :  Transform a Declarative Sentence into an Interrogative One!

1.        Declarative sentence with a descending intonation:  Example:  Jean est modeste.

2.        Interrogative sentence with a rising intonation:  Example: Jean est modeste?

French Lesson Notes:  There are two ways to ask questions in French.  You can turn a declarative sentence into an interrogative one both in spoken and written French by using the interrogation mark or by using the rising intonation.  Example:  Jean est riche?

By placing Est-ce que before the declarative sentence, you can turn it into an interrogative one.  Example:  Est-ce que Jean est modeste? Est-ce que Jean est riche?

Exercices Oraux – Oral Exercises

Example :  Je suis bien.  Est-ce que tu es bien ?

1.        Jacques est riche

2.       Je suis modeste

3.       David and Jeanne sont responsables

4.       Sylvain est intelligent

5.       Marie est jolie

6.       Tu es élegant

7.       Vous êtes dynamique

8.       Yvon et Bob sont pessimistes

9.       Ils sont réalistes

10.   Alain est modeste

11.   Romain est énergique

12.   Garcia est fatigué

13.   Nous sommes malades

14.   Le Président est présent

15.   La femme du premier ministre est belle

Express the Negative Form :  How to Express the negative form with Etre

Simple Rule:  Just place these two words before and after the verb:  Ne…Pas or N’…pas if the verb begins with a vowel. Examples: Je ne suis pas malade (Kreyol: M pa malad) – I am not sick; Je ne suis pas riche – I am not rich (Kreyol: M pa rich)

Tu n’es pas dynamique

Tu n’es pas pessimiste

Xavier n’est pas malade

Christophe n’est pas méchant

Vous n’êtes pas intelligents

Elles ne sont pas modestes.

Dialogue, Conversation, Situation and Contexts

Here is a sample of dialogue between two siblings, two students or two friends :

Voici le modèle: 

Steven:  Salut, Comment ça va ?

Barron :  ça va bien. Et toi ?

Steven :  Pas mal.  Comment t’appelles-tu ?

Barron :  Je m’appelle Barron.  Et toi ?

Steven :  Je m’appelle Steven.

Barron :  Au revoir

Steven :  A bientôt.

Pronunciation Tips :  Tonic Accents and Rhythmic Groups or Phrases

In a single word, the tonic accent always falls on the last syllable

Repeat these words: intelligent, absent, dynamique, impatient, fatigué, joli, Chantal, stupide, pressé, occupé, petit, mince, tolérant, responsable, arrogante, optimiste

In rhythmic groups or phrases, words lose their tonic accent.  The accent occurs on the last syllable of the final word of the group or phrase. 

Romain est bien.  Jacques va bien.  Louis est aimable.  Cet homme est très sportif.  Comment ça va ?  ça va très bien.  Merci.

Is French Still Relevant in the Americas Where English and Spanish Reign?

There is no doubt that English is spoken everywhere you turn in the Americas.  Behind it is its cousin, Spanish.  Now the question to ask is why French, a language loved by most school children and tourists to Europe is not embraced as well as English.  In the Caribbean, you can find Haiti and the French overseas territories, Guadeloupe and Martinique as places where the language is spoken.  In Louisiana, some French is spoken too.  In the Americas, the other country that places a huge emphasis on the teaching of French is Canada.  Les Quebecois make sure that this language is treated just like English or any other language.

Because French is not embraced like English, that does not mean that it is not important.  It is one of the major languages of Europe.  After all, a large group of people speak it from Europe, the Americas and Africa.  There are many countries that speak French.  Mostly, the former colonies of France still speak French.  Even in Indochine, such as Vietnam and Laos, you can still find the vestiges of the language on the Asian continent.  More and more emphasis should be placed on the study and expansion of this beautiful language of Moliere.

Welcome to La Baguette French Lesson, Your Free French 101: Daily French Baguette Served with Warm Cafe au Lait!

LaBaguetteFrenchLesson is about the use and popularity of French in the Americas.  Our goal is to show how important the French language is still in many of the French-speaking countries and cultures on this side of the world.  LaBaguetteFrenchLesson is an effort by HaitianCreoleMP3 Podcast Institute to teach and introduce those who want to help rebuild Haiti.  HaitianCreoleMP3 and LaBaguette French Lesson want volunteers and international aid workers to be well versed in the two languages spoken in Haiti and beyond.

This is also our way to lend a hand to the Haitian reconstruction by preparing and equipping the potential volunteers with language capabilities that will empower them.  French and Creole are the two languages spoken in Haiti.  While all Haitians speak Haitian creole, a minority of Haitians speak French too.  Until 1983, French was the only official language of the country.  Until now, many of the documents are still in French.  So to work and help Haitins, one has to learn the other language, French.  To cut down red tapes and face the Haitian bureaucracy, one has to learn it.  In collaboration with HaitianCreoleMP3 Institute, we at La Baguette French Lesson, are glad to help.

Most importantly, our goal is to teach the young generations of language learners the beauty of speaking and interacting with others.  The more we can communicate, the better the connection will be.

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