French is big necessity in Africa

Informante   Sun Apr 05, 2009 7:19 am GMT
Africa francofona

Il francese in Africa, secondo le stime ufficiali dell'OIF per il 2006, è parlato come lingua madre o come seconda lingua corrente da oltre 115 milioni di persone distribuite in 27 stati indipendenti oltre che nei due dipartimenti francesi d'oltremare della Réunion e di Mayotte: ciò fa dell'Africa il continente più francofono del mondo, davanti all'Europa e all' America francofona. Inoltre tale cifra è destinata ad aumentare fortemente nei prossimi anni a causa di due fattori: la forte crescita demografica degli stati africani di lingua francese e l'incremento della scolarizzazione che rende possibile l'accesso alla lingua anche alle fasce della popolazione che ne sono attualmente escluse (popolazione rurale e popolazione più povera).

Uso del francese in Africa

Il francese, arrivato nel continente africano con la colonizzazione da parte della Francia e del Belgio, è spesso una seconda lingua per la popolazione locale ma in alcune regioni è contesti è diventato una lingua materna, sostituendo in tutte le funzioni comunicative le lingue locali: è il caso del dipartimento francese della Réunion e di alcune aree urbane e metropolitane come quella di Abidjan, capitale della Costa d'Avorio. In altri casi, come avviene nei paesi del Maghreb, esso è usato come lingua principale dalle classi più istruite della popolazione mentre il resto della popolazione ne ha una conoscenza come seconda lingua e lo utilizza nei contesti più formali o nelle comunicazioni con gli stranieri. In altri casi ancora esso svolge la funzione di lingua franca neutrale per le comunicazioni interetniche all'interno di uno stesso stato laddove non esista una lingua locale prevalente o deputata a tale scopo (è il caso ad esempio del Gabon. In tutti gli stati francofoni dell'Africa, anche laddove sopravvivono nell'uso quotidiano le lingue locali, il francese costituisce la lingua principale dell'istruzione, dei media (televisione,radio e stampa) e delle comunicazioni formali e internazionali. Ciò fa sì che, come tra l'altro affermato pubblicamente dal presidente della Costa d'Avorio, il francese venga ormai percepito in molti casi non più come la lingua importata dai vecchi colonizzatori bianchi ,ma sempre più come una lingua ormai appartenente a pieno titolo all'identità africana al pari delle lingue preesistenti.

Gli stati africani e l'OIF

Tutti gli stati francofoni dell'Africa prendono parte all'OIF, l'Organizzazione Internazionale della Francofonia, eccetto l'Algeria che ne resta al di fuori per ragioni politiche. Hanno scelto di partecipare all'OIF anche l'Egitto, paese dove il francese e l'inglese costituiscono storicamente lingue utilizzate nel campo della cultura accademica e del commercio, nonché diversi paesi africani che hanno come lingua ufficiale il portoghese (Capo Verde,Guinea Bissau, Sao Tomé e Principe come membri a pieno titolo nonché il Mozambico come membro osservatore) e l'inglese (Ghana, come membro associato) che si sono così impegnati a rafforzare l'insegnamento del francese come lingua straniera al fine di favorire gli scambi commerciali e culturali con il blocco degli stati africani francofoni.

http://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Africa_francofona

TRANSLATION:

Francophone Africa

French in Africa, according to official estimates dell'OIF for 2006, is spoken as mother tongue or as a second language by over 115 million people distributed in 27 independent states as well as in the two French overseas departments of Reunion and Mayotte: this is the continent of Africa most of the Francophone world, to Europe and before all 'French-speaking America. Moreover, this figure will grow strongly in coming years due to two factors: the strong population growth of African French-speaking and the increase in education that makes possible access to language to sections of the population who are currently excluded (rural population and the poorest people).

Use of French in Africa

The French arrived in Africa with colonization by France and Belgium, it is often a second language for the local population but in some regions is contexts has become a mother tongue, by replacing all the functions in the local languages of communication is the case of the French department of Réunion and some urban and metropolitan areas such as Abidjan, the capital of Ivory Coast. In other cases, as happens in the countries of the Maghreb, it is used as the primary language by most educated classes of the population while the rest of the population has knowledge as a second language and uses it in more formal contexts, or in communications with foreigners. In other cases its role is neutral lingua franca for inter-communications within a state where there is no predominant local language or appointed to that end (as is the case for example of Gabon. In all the states of francophone 'Africa, where they survive in everyday local languages, French is the main language of education, media (television, radio and print) and the formal and international. This means that, as among other affirmed publicly by the president of Ivory Coast, French is now perceived in many cases not as the language imported from the old white settlers, but increasingly as a language now belongs fully to the identity of African languages in the same background.

African states and the OIF

All were French-speaking Africa are taking part all'OIF, the International Organization of La Francophonie, except Algeria, which remains outside for political reasons. They have chosen to participate all'OIF including Egypt, where French and English languages are historically used in the academic field of culture and commerce, and various African countries whose official language, Portuguese (Cape Verde, Guinea Bissau , Sao Tome and Principe as full members and Mozambique as a member observer) and English (Ghana, as an associate member) who are so committed to strengthening the teaching of French as a foreign language in order to promote trade and cultural relations with the bloc of French-speaking African states.
Commentator   Sun Apr 05, 2009 7:39 am GMT
English is not treated in former British Africa as their own in fact Arabic is more widely used in Egypt and Sudan than it is used in Maghreb and at the same time Swahili is used more and more in Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda. But English is still spoken, especially when dealing internationally and in technical matters.

The language with the closest status to French in Africa is Portuguese on the other hand is either a first or secondary language in former Portuguese Africa. Thanks to Portuguese colonization of those countries from 16th century and lasted up to the 2oth century.

Dutch language is ever present in South Africa and Namibia through its derivative Afrikaans.

Italian, German, and Spanish are less used than it was during colonial times and currently under pressure from either French, English, Portuguese, and Afrikaans/Cape Dutch.

The winners are French, Portuguese, English, and Afrikaans(Cape Dutch) while Italian, German, and Spanish chances of survival in this continent are that good.
Commentator   Sun Apr 05, 2009 7:42 am GMT
English is not treated in former British Africa as their own in fact Arabic is more widely used in Egypt and Sudan than it is used in Maghreb and at the same time Swahili is used more and more in Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda. But English is still spoken, especially when dealing internationally and in technical matters.

The language with the closest status to French in Africa is Portuguese on the other hand, is either a first or secondary language in former Portuguese Africa. Thanks to Portuguese colonization of those countries from 16th century and lasted up to the 20th century.

Dutch language is ever present in South Africa and Namibia through its derivative Afrikaans.

Italian, German, and Spanish are less used than it was during colonial times and currently under pressure from either French, English, Portuguese, and Afrikaans/Cape Dutch.

The winners are French, Portuguese, English, and Afrikaans(Cape Dutch) while Italian, German, and Spanish chances of survival in this continent are NOT that good.
I know   Wed Apr 08, 2009 12:37 pm GMT
French are Africans like Americans
Guest   Wed Apr 08, 2009 5:10 pm GMT
The winners are French, Portuguese, English, and Afrikaans(Cape Dutch) while Italian, German, and Spanish chances of survival in this continent are NOT that good.


Spain has enclaves in Africa: Ceuta, Melilla, and Canary Islands. Spanish will be spoken there forever. On the contrary in Africa people don't speak French properly but different creoles because people are extremely poor and don't have access to schools.
anon   Wed Apr 08, 2009 8:27 pm GMT
<<On the contrary in Africa people don't speak French properly but different creoles because people are extremely poor and don't have access to schools.>>

No, french creoles are primarily from the carribean, and the Indian ocean. In Africa they speak standard french, and the quality is generally very good, even among the people who are completely uneducated.
Visitor   Thu Apr 09, 2009 4:58 am GMT
<< Spain has enclaves in Africa: Ceuta, Melilla, and Canary Islands. Spanish will be spoken there forever. On the contrary in Africa people don't speak French properly but different creoles because people are extremely poor and don't have access to schools. >>

And what about the Spanish spoken in Ceuta, Melilla, and Canary Islands? Is it of high quality? Surely it's even far worse than the English of Anglophone Africa.
Bianco   Thu Apr 09, 2009 5:40 am GMT
<< African states and the OIF

All were French-speaking Africa are taking part in OIF, the International Organization of La Francophonie, except Algeria, which remains outside for political reasons. They have chosen to participate in OIF including Egypt, where French and English languages are historically used in the academic field of culture and commerce, and various African countries whose official language, Portuguese (Cape Verde, Guinea Bissau , Sao Tome and Principe as full members and Mozambique as a member observer) and English (Ghana, as an associate member) who are so committed to strengthening the teaching of French as a foreign language in order to promote trade and cultural relations with the bloc of French-speaking African states. >>

It's a proof that French is
Bianco   Thu Apr 09, 2009 5:45 am GMT
<< African states and the OIF

All were French-speaking Africa are taking part in OIF, the International Organization of La Francophonie, except Algeria, which remains outside for political reasons. They have chosen to participate in OIF including Egypt, where French and English languages are historically used in the academic field of culture and commerce, and various African countries whose official language, Portuguese (Cape Verde, Guinea Bissau , Sao Tome and Principe as full members and Mozambique as a member observer) and English (Ghana, as an associate member) who are so committed to strengthening the teaching of French as a foreign language in order to promote trade and cultural relations with the bloc of French-speaking African states. >>

It's a proof that French is so strong in Africa as oppose to the wishful thinking of others.
Guest   Thu Apr 09, 2009 6:27 pm GMT
Algeria is out of La francophonie for obvious reasons, the national language is Arabic, not French because French is the language of the opressors. Many countries join la Francophonie due to political reasons: to get the money of France, nothing more. Also French is losing room in Rwanda. French is not that strong in that country and also, how come is French spoken in its standard form in the African countries? They are poor and 99% of people don't attend to schools. I've heard some of those blacks speaking French and it has nothing to do with French spoken in France. I doubt a Frenchman will understand those people speaking.
WTF   Thu Apr 09, 2009 7:27 pm GMT
Well, English is a big necessity in THE WORLD! Not French. Another attempt of a francophile trying to assert that French is still important today. Yes, we already know that a bunch of (very poor) African countries use French. What's your point? English and Arabic are also important in Africa. Infact, some countries have removed French as an offical language and some have adopted English. That doesn't say much for French.
nottaken   Fri Apr 10, 2009 8:11 am GMT
It seems that English is at least as equally important as French and rapidly growing there, and I don't think many Africans have sentimental feelings to the langauges of their colonial oppressors. They will likely only see them as a means to an end.
Guest   Sat Apr 11, 2009 10:20 am GMT
<< Algeria is out of La francophonie for obvious reasons, the national language is Arabic, not French because French is the language of the opressors. Many countries join la Francophonie due to political reasons: to get the money of France, nothing more. Also French is losing room in Rwanda. French is not that strong in that country and also, how come is French spoken in its standard form in the African countries? They are poor and 99% of people don't attend to schools. I've heard some of those blacks speaking French and it has nothing to do with French spoken in France. I doubt a Frenchman will understand those people speaking. >>

Just because Algeria is at odds with France it doesn't mean that they will hate the French language too. French is the de facto official language of that country and more often used in government, business, and education. In fact it is the first language of the elite.

About Rwanda, just take a research about Cambodia. French is still widely used in business, academic, medicine, and law. Time will tell if Rwanda can get rid of French and I say no because lack of funds to switch from French to English aside from the fact that UK and US are not giving money for English enhancement in Rwanda because it has no oil.

All I can say is English will suffer the same fate as it is in Baltic states when the people switch to English and all they learn is basic and they found out that the US was not willing to help them after leaning English. Result, they switched back to Russian.
Malik   Tue Apr 21, 2009 6:03 pm GMT
well I'm african so I know some facts. Yes French is strong in Africa and more spoken than English. It's true.
And, no, in Algeria, we speak and understand french, school, tv, add and commercials are in French and Arabic.
I know many english speakers don't like french language, but this is a reality, you like it or not.
Malik   Tue Apr 21, 2009 6:07 pm GMT
"I doubt a Frenchman will understand those people speaking"

Many french tourists in Africa and we understand each other very well.