In 2012, the Politico website discussed a (gentle) French rebellion against the English language. The idea was to force EU diplomats to use French in all correspondence as long as a native speaker remained in charge of The Council of the EU. Previously, English had been the de facto language of European affairs.
It’s easy to see why. English is the world's most spoken language as a combination of first- and second-language speakers, and Yahoo! claims it has learners in 122 countries. As younger people lead the surge in language learning, English’s position can theoretically only get stronger.
Rebellion
France’s historic rivalry with England aside, the former has long been a campaigner for its mother tongue, especially given reports that French is vanishing in its former protectorates like Morocco. Moroccans have begun speaking English even to French tourists, suggesting a rebellion against their former rulers.
France had expected its language to take over official business following the UK’s lengthy exit from Europe (by native speakers, French is a more significant language in Europe than Italian, English, and Spanish). However, that didn’t happen - and French traditionalists are now hoping to settle for a shift in how the language is spoken, rather than its demise.
This fear seems premature. French isn’t going away. At least 27 nations, including Madagascar, Belgium, Luxembourg, and distant Canada, speak French in some capacity. More specifically, the North American territories where French is an official language are Quebec, New Brunswick, the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and the Yukon.
This makes French spoken across five continents. There's even a French base in Antarctica called Dumont d'Urville Station.
“Power” Language
The usefulness of French abroad is a bigger question. In Canada, plenty of businesses offer services in both English and French. An obvious example is a local entity such as the online fashion retailer Simons. Simons lists both Canadian French and Canadian English on their website. However, this choice is a requirement even for businesses outside the country.
The CASINOenquirer website, which details the best Canadian online casinos, notes that all the operators it lists support both languages to “prevent misunderstandings”. One of these, 888, has its HQ in Gibraltar.
In such a case, French can be essential for travellers. However, Canada may be an isolated example of a country where French is a “power” language.
In post-Brexit Europe, English has found new life as a “neutral” tongue, according to The Spectator, instead of surrendering to the aggression of French language champions, such as those making demands of The Council of the EU.
European Elite
There’s a feeling that the ancient position of French as a dominant language informs debates about its future. The Spectator points to the presence of French in England and Italy during the 14th century, with French spoken by kings and a large portion of the European nobility. Of course, this nostalgia can be inevitable when a long-spoken language appears to decline.
Overall, the perceived decline of the French language is subjective, and it remains the lingua franca in many countries around the world.
