French Language Translation

The status of a language, in this case Standard French, is determined by the a) population size of users, their b) economic and c) political power, d) historical factors, whether the language is the dominant language of the nation, and whether the language is native (as in English in England) or nativized (as English in Singapore).

Size of Users

Standard French is one of the world's major languages and the most widely spoken first language in the European Union. Around the world, Standard French is spoken by approximately 75 million native speakers and also by about 190 million non-native speakers.

National and Regional size of users

Standard French is an official national language in the following European countries:

1) France (62 million users of Standard French)

2) Belgium (6.3 million users of Belgian French which is almost identical to Standard French, of which 4.3 million are native users)

3) Luxembourg (Total population of 372,000 use Standard French, German and Lëtzebuergesch in a complimentary way)

4) Switzerland (1.5 million users of Standard French, other official languages are German, Italian Rhaeto-Romansh)

In Europe, the number of native speakers versus other main European languages are as follows:

1) German (94 million native speakers)

2) French (75 million native speakers)

3) English (58 million native speakers)

(The following list is from George Weber's article "Top Languages: The World's 10 Most Influential Languages" in Language Today (Vol. 2, Dec 1997)

Globally, the total number of Standard French speakers compared to other United Nations Official languages is as follows:

1) Mandarin (1.12 billion speakers, Native: 1.1 billion, Non-Native: 20 million)

2) English (480 million speakers, Native: 330 million, Non-Native: 150 million)

3) Spanish (320 million speakers, Native: 300 million, Non-Native: 20 million)

4) French (265 million speakers, Native: 75 million, Non-Native: 190 million)

5) German (109 million speakers, Native: 100 million, Non-Native: 9 million)

6) Arabic (221 million speakers, Native: 200 million, Non-Native: 21 million)

Economy

France is the 2nd largest national economy in Europe, the fifth-largest by nominal Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of USD $2.853 trillion in 2009 in the world as reported by World Bank. France Gross Domestic Product (GDP) expanded an average of 0.30% over the last 4 quarters in 2009. Nominal GDP per Capita is USD $45, 981 in 2009 according to World Bank and eighth by purchasing power parity (PPP) of $2.112 trillion (2008 est.).

France is a large and diverse industrial nation. Economic growth rates in France have been steady for decades due to conservative planning of the economy by the government in France. Based on last quarter of 2009, France have climbed out of the recession successfully.

France imports about 529.1 billion worth of goods. The imported goods are mainly machinery and equipment, vehicles, crude oil, aircraft, plastics, chemicals from United States and from France’s neighbours such as Germany, Belgium, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, United Kingdom.

As of September 2009 as measured by International Labour Organization standards the French unemployment rate was 8 percent.

Switzerland GDP per capita (Nominal) was USD$64,015 and per capita income (PPP) was USD$42,534 and ranks 6th among the world’s highest in 2008. In 2008, the Nominal GDP was USD$488,470 million, the purchasing power parity (PPP) was USD$ 324,576 million with a ranking of 34th in the world according to World Bank while GDP real growth rate was 1.6%.

Switzerland has a population size of 7.7 million and is one of the world's most stable economies. It has a long-term policy of monetary security and bank secrecy thus making Switzerland a safe haven for investors, creating an economy that is increasingly dependent on a steady tide of foreign investment. Switzerland has high labour specialisation in the area of machinery, chemicals, watches, textiles and precision instruments. The government maintains a low budget deficit. Total imports is valued at USD$226.2 billion and are mainly from Germany, Italy, France, US, Netherlands, Austria and UK. Goods imported are mainly chemicals, machines, vehicles, agriculture products and fishery, metals, textile, clothing and shoes, precision tools, watches, jewelry and energy. Goods exported are value added chemicals, machines, precision tools, watches, jewelry, agriculture and fishery, vehicles, textile, clothing and shoes.

As of September 2009 as measured by International Labour Organization standards the Switzerland unemployment rate was 3.9 percent in 2009.

Belgium Nominal GDP per capita ranks 13th among the world's highest. In 2008, the Nominal GDP was USD $497,586 million, the purchasing power parity (PPP) was USD$369,213 million with a ranking of 29th in the world and the per capita income (PPP) was USD$46,486 according to World Bank while GDP growth was 1.3%.

Belgium has a population size of 10.6 million and is located at the heart of one of the world's most highly industrialized and wealthy regions. The country has developed an excellent transportation infrastructure of ports, canals, railways, and highways to integrate its industry with that of its wealthy neighbouring European countries, such as Germany and France.

Belgium’s GDP is dependent on services (74.9%), industry-related activities (24.2%) and agriculture (1%). The industrial sector imports raw materials and semi-finished goods that are further processed and re-exported. Except for its coal, Belgium has negligible natural resources. Imports are mainly raw materials e.g. chemicals and raw diamonds, machinery and equipment, pharmaceutical products, foodstuffs, transportation equipment, textiles, electronic related parts and oil products.

About 78% of Belgium's trade is with fellow EU member states. Currently, Belgium seeks to diversify and expand trade opportunities with non-EC countries. Belgium ranks as the 11th-largest market for the export of U.S. goods and services. If goods in transit to other European countries are excluded, Belgium ranks as the 12th-largest market for U.S. goods

As of September 2009 as measured by International Labour Organization standards the Belgium unemployment rate was 6.5 percent.

Luxembourg GDP per capita (Nominal) was USD$111,240 and per capita income (PPP) was USD$77,559 and ranks 1st among the world in 2008. In 2008, the Nominal GDP was USD $54,257 million, the purchasing power parity (PPP) was USD$38,337 million with a ranking of 91st in the world according to World Bank while GDP growth was 1%.

Luxembourg has a population of 372, 0000 people. Luxembourg depends on mainly banking and financial services, iron and steel, information technology, telecommunications, cargo transportation, food processing, chemicals, metal products, engineering, tires, glass, aluminium and tourism.

Politics

France is a member of the United Nations, NATO, G8, G20, OECD, and the WTO. It holds a key position in European affairs and maintains a multitude of close partnerships on a global level.

France also has extensive political and commercial relations with Asian countries, including the People's Republic of China, India, Japan, and Southeast Asia as well as an increasing presence in regional fora. France was instrumental in launching the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) process which could eventually emerge as a competitor to APEC. France is seeking to broaden its commercial presence in China and will pose a competitive challenge to U.S. business, particularly in aerospace, high-tech, and luxury markets. In Southeast Asia, France was an architect of the Paris Accords, which ended the conflict in Cambodia.

Switzerland has a long history of neutrality. It has not been in a state of war internationally since 1815 and was one of the last countries to join the United Nations. Switzerland is home to many international organisations, including the World Economic Forum, the Red Cross, the World Trade Organization and the second largest UN office. On the European level it was a founder of the European Free Trade Association and is part of the Schengen Agreement.

Belgium are strong proponents of European integration and continues to improve relations and  strengthen economic and political integration within the European Union,. Most of their foreign, economic, and trade policies are coordinated through the European Union, which has its main headquarters (the European Commission, the Council of the European Union and sessions of the European Parliament) in Belgium, Brussels.

After the war, Belgium's formed the European Community with The Netherlands and Luxembourg and worked towards common visa policies and free movement of people across common borders with member countries.

Luxembourg is a founding member of the European Union, NATO, OECD, the United Nations, Benelux, and the Western European Union, reflecting the political consensus in favour of economic, political, and military integration. The city of Luxembourg, the capital and largest city, is the seat of several institutions and agencies of the European Union.

Historical Factors

In France, the French language has been the people’s native language since the 1st century.

Belgium, similar to Luxembourg, has often been Europe's battleground.  Burgundians, Habsburgs, Bourbons and Bonapartes have all involved these 2 countries in their struggles. In Belgium, the Burgundians enforced the usage of French as the official administrative language and French has been used by the community in the Walloon Region (33% of present Belgium’s population) since 16th Century.

Luxembourg has also adopted the French language for official administrative language and as a language of instruction for secondary and higher level education due to historic traditions and economic necessity.

Switzerland has adopted French language due to historic traditions, economic necessity and political reasons. After the battle of Marignano in 1515 where Francis I of France and his Venetian allies had defeated the Swiss Confederates, Switzerland became less ambitious in conquering other countries. In 1516, Switzerland had made peace with Francis and negotiated the “perpetual alliance” with France and maintained a neutral policy.

Miscellaneous Information

Apart from France, Standard French, also known as Metropolitan French and variants or dialects of the French language are found in other countries. They are found in:

1) Africa

Main French dialects are those spoken by:

a) Native Africans in Western, Central, and East Africa whereby the generic name for these varieties of dialect is called African French;

b) Arabs and Berbers in Northwest Africa whereby the dialect is called Maghreb French;

c) Africans with foreign ancestry (called Creoles) in the Indian Ocean such as Réunion which is still existing as a French colony and defined as an overseas department of French), Mauritius, and Seychelles. The dialects spoken are called Réunion Creole, Mauritian Creole and Seychellois Creole respectively;

d) Africans in Republic of Congo, Rwanda, and Burundi, which were formerly Belgian colonies. The dialect spoken is Belgian French.

2) America

The main French dialects found in Lousiana are Cajun French (sometimes called Louisiana Regional French), Napoleonic French and Colonial (or Plantation Society) French and are spoken by:

a) Acadians who were related to French pioneers;

b) Americans in Orleans, St. Bernard, St. Tammany, St. Charles, St. John the Baptiste, Jefferson, West Bâton-Rouge, Pointe-Coupée, Avoyelles, St. Mary, Iberia, Assumption, and St. Landry parishes.

3) Canada

Main French dialects are found in:

a) Quebec whereby the dialect is called Quebec French.

b) Nova Scotia, some parts of the Canadian Maritimes and some parts of Quebec and Newfoundland and spoken by French pioneers and following generations. The dialect is called Arcadian French.

c) Newfoundland whereby the minority dialect is called Newfoundland French.

d) Manitoba, North Dakota and the adjacent areas, the unincorporated lands of the North American League and also in New Francy. The dialect is called Métis French.

4) Europe and its Territories

Standard French and Dialects are spoken in:

a) Belgian whereby Belgian French is spoken along with other regional languages such as Walloon, Picard, Champenois and Gaumais.

b) Italy, in the province of Aosta Valley whereby Standard French (recognised as an official language)and Franco-Provençal languages (Faeto and Valdôtain) are spoken. Franco-Provençal language share features with French and Provençalwithout belonging to either.

c) Luxembourg whereby Standard French is one of the three official languages. The other two languages are German and Luxembourgish. French is also commonly accepted as media of communication for matters relating to government, commerce and education.

d) Switzerland whereby Romandy (a Swiss French language) is spoken as well as Swiss German. Swiss French and Standard French are very similar and well understood by both speakers in Switzerland and France.

e) The Channel Islands (in particular in the Jersey and Guernsey islands) whereby Jersey French is used for administration as some laws, contracts and other important documents are written in it and for formalities in prayers, ceremonies and other events.

5) Asia

Main French dialects are found in

a) Laos whereby Lao French is spoken by the elite community and used in administration and by newspapers publishers.

b) Cambodia whereby Cambodian French is still by spoken by many older Cambodians as a second language. The Cambodian French language is also used as an education communication tool.

c) India whereby the dialect spoken is indian French is a language of French spoken by Indians in past French colonies of Pondicherry, Chandernagore, Karikal, Mahe and Yanam. The dialect has influences from Dravidian languages e.g. Tamil, Telegu and Malayalam.

d) French Territories in Southwest Indian Ocean as in Mayotte and Réunion whereby Standard French is the only official language and used in administration, education and the communication media and continually developed by the French Central state.

e) Lebanon whereby Lebanese French is used in administration and education.

6) Oceania

French is an official language of the Pacific Island nation of Vanuatu, New Caledonia, French Polynesia and in the French territory of Wallis and Futuna.

Professional French Translation and Interpretation

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