Francophone
The term "francophone" refers to individuals who speak French, encompassing both native speakers and those who have learned the language fluently. The concept emerged in the mid-20th century, with its first recorded use in 1949. In Canada, where approximately 80 percent of the population identifies as either English or French speakers, the terms "francophone" and "anglophone" have been adopted since the 1960s to denote native speakers of French and English, respectively. This linguistic categorization reflects Canada's commitment to bilingualism and multiculturalism, enshrined in federal laws that promote the equal status of both languages. Beyond Canada, francophone communities are found globally, including in countries such as Haiti, Switzerland, Belgium, and various former French colonies in Africa and the Caribbean. As of 2015, French is recognized as an official language in over two dozen countries worldwide. This rich linguistic landscape highlights the importance of French language and culture across diverse regions.
On this Page
Francophone
The term “francophone” is of relatively recent coinage. Its first attested use was in 1949 in French. Its literal meaning is “one who speaks French.” In this original use, francophone referred both to native speakers of French and to others who had learned to speak French fluently.Canada has officially been a bilingual country since the British North America Act of 1867 created Canada as an independent country, and as of the 2011 census, about 80 percent of Canadians considered either English or French to be their native language. By the 1960’s, both native speakers of French and English in Canada began to use the terms “francophone” and “anglophone” to identify respectively native speakers of French and English. This modern usage of these words was important because it demonstrated to Canadians that their commitment to Canada was perfectly compatible with their love of their ethnic and linguistic heritages in a multicultural and bilingualbilingual country. Federal laws that recognized French and English as the official languages of Canada both in theory and in daily practice helped to preserve and protect linguistic diversity and equality in such a diverse country as Canada.
Haiti, Switzerland, Belgium, Luxembourg, the United States, and former French colonies in the Caribbean, Africa, and Asia are home to francophone populations as well. In fact, as of 2015, French was the official language of more than two dozen countries worldwide, according to the government of France.
Bibliography
Beauclair, Marie. The Francophone World: Cultural Issues and Perspectives. New York: Lang, 2003. Print.
Corcoran, Patrick. The Cambridge Introduction to Francophone Literature. Cambridge: Cambridge UP, 2007. Print.
"French and the Francophonie in Canada." Statistics Canada. Govt. of Canada, 14 Jan. 2014. Web. 8 Apr. 2015.
Gafaïti, Hafid, Patricia M. E. Lorcin, and David G. Troyansky, eds. Transnational Spaces and Identities in the Francophone World. Lincoln: U of Nebraska, 2009. Print.
"Linguistic Characteristics of Canadians." Statistics Canada. Govt. of Canada, 14 Jan. 2014. Web. 8 Apr. 2015.
"The Status of French in the World." France Diplomatie. French Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Development, 2015. Web. 8 Apr. 2015.