France, officially known as the French Republic, is a sovereign state in Western Europe. The Republic also spans several territories overseas. The European area of France borders Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Monaco, Spain and Andorra. France is often referred to as l’Hexagon (The Hexagon) due to its shape.
- Capital City: Paris
- Other Cities: Marseille, Lyon, Toulouse and Nice
- Population: 66.7 million
- Size: 643,801 km2
- Official Language: French
- Climate: Generally oceanic, however the South of France is typically warmer year round whilst the French Alps and other mountainous regions have an alpine climate.
- Life Expectancy: 79 years (male), 85 years (female)
SPOKEN LANGUAGE
French is the official language and the first language of 88 percent of the population, according to the BBC. It is the dominant language of the country's 70 million residents, but there are a number of variants based on region. French is the second most widely learned foreign language in the world, with almost 120 million students, according to the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Development.
About 3 percent of the population speaks German dialects, and there is a small group of Flemish speakers in the northeast, according to the BBC. Arabic is the third-largest minority language.
Those living near the border of Italy may speak Italian as a second language, and Basque is spoken by people living along the French-Spanish border.
Other dialects and languages include Catalan, Breton (the Celtic language), Occitan dialects, and languages from the former French colonies, including Kabyle and Antillean Creole.
WRITTEN LANGUAGE
The French language is based on the same 26 letter Latin alphabet that is used in the English language, however there are an additional five diacritics and two ligatures. The letters “w” and “k” are not used particularly often, except in loanwords or regional words. The earliest recorded example of written French is in the Oaths of Strasbourg from 842- this is written in an early form of French called Romance or Gallo-Romance.
In 1989, then French Prime Minister Michel Rocard appointed the Conseil supérieur de la langue française (Superior Council of the French Language) to introduce the most recent round of reforms to the written French language. An example of these reforms include joining written numbers with hyphens (huit-cent-mille-cinq-cent-et-un = 800,501), These reforms are commonly known as “rectifications orthographiques” and were published on 6 December 1990.
WRITTEN LANGUAGE
The French language is based on the same 26 letter Latin alphabet that is used in the English language, however there are an additional five diacritics and two ligatures. The letters “w” and “k” are not used particularly often, except in loanwords or regional words. The earliest recorded example of written French is in the Oaths of Strasbourg from 842- this is written in an early form of French called Romance or Gallo-Romance.
In 1989, then French Prime Minister Michel Rocard appointed the Conseil supérieur de la langue française (Superior Council of the French Language) to introduce the most recent round of reforms to the written French language. An example of these reforms include joining written numbers with hyphens (huit-cent-mille-cinq-cent-et-un = 800,501), These reforms are commonly known as “rectifications orthographiques” and were published on 6 December 1990.
RELIGION
Catholicism is the predominant religion of France. In a survey by the French Institute of Public Opinion (IFOP), 64 percent of the population (about 41.6 million people) identified themselves as Roman Catholic. Major religions practiced in France include the Catholic Church, Islam, various branches of Protestantism, Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism, Russian Orthodoxy, Armenian Christianity, and Sikhism amongst others, making it a multiconfessional country. Sunday mass attendance has fallen to 5% for the catholics, the overall level of observance is considerably lower than in the past.
According to the Eurobarometer Poll conducted in 2010, 27% of French citizens responded that they "believe there is a God", 33% answered that they "believe there is some sort of spirit or life force", and 40% answered that they "do not believe there is any sort of spirit, God, or life force". This makes France one of the most irreligious countries in the world.
According to the Eurobarometer Poll conducted in 2010, 27% of French citizens responded that they "believe there is a God", 33% answered that they "believe there is some sort of spirit or life force", and 40% answered that they "do not believe there is any sort of spirit, God, or life force". This makes France one of the most irreligious countries in the world.
VALUES
The French take immense great pride in their nation and government and are typically offended by any negative comments about their country. Visitors, particularly Americans, often interpret their attitude toward foreigners as rude.
"From around the 16th century, in Europe, culture became a term for the cultivation of the mind, the intellect, knowledge, learning, creative faculties and acceptable ways of behaving," said De Rossi. The French embrace style and sophistication and take pride in the fact that even their public spaces strike a regal tone.
The French believe in égalité, which means equality, and is part of the country's motto: "Liberté, Egalité, Fraternité." Many say they place a higher importance on equality than liberty and fraternity, the other two words in the motto.
The French embody romance and passion, and there is an open attitude toward sex outside of marriage, according to a study by France's National Research Agency on AIDS. Even the country's top politicians have been known to carry out extramarital affairs without making an effort to conceal them. As a reflection of the country's secular nature, it is not uncommon for children are born to unmarried couples.
In addition to traditional marriage, French couples also have the choice of getting a pacte civil de solidarité (PACS). This is a union that has many of the same benefits of marriage, like tax breaks, but can be dissolved with a notice or by marrying someone else or instead of a divorce. Two-thirds as many French couples are in a PACS as are married, according to The Economist.
CLOTHING
The term haute couture is associated with French fashion and loosely means fancier garments that are handmade or made to order. In France, the term is protected by law and is defined by the Paris Chamber of Commerce, according to Eva Domjian, a London-based fashion writer and editor. Domjian writes on her blog:
"To earn the right to call itself a couture house and to use the term haute couture in its advertising and any other way, a fashion house must follow these rules:
- Design made-to-order for private clients, with one or more fittings.
- Have a workshop (atelier) in Paris that employs at least 15 people full-time.
- Each season (i.e. twice a year) present a collection to the Paris press, comprising at least 35 runs/exits with outfits for both daytime wear and evening wear."
FRENCH ART
Art is everywhere in France — particularly in Paris and other major cities — and Gothic, Romanesque Rococo and Neoclassic influences can be seen in many churches and other public buildings.
Many of history's most renowned artists, including Claude Monet, Edgar Degas, and Camille Pissarro, sought inspiration in Paris, and they gave rise to the Impressionism movement.
The Louvre Museum in Paris is among the world's largest museums and is home to many famous works of art, including the Mona Lisa and Venus de Milo.
HOLIDAYS AND CELEBRATIONS
They mark May Day, also known as Labor Day, on May 1. Victory in Europe Day on May 8 commemorates the end of hostilities in Europe in World War II. Bastille Day is celebrated on July 14. This is the day the Bastille fortress in Paris was stormed by revolutionaries to start the French Revolution.
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