When we talk about evolution, one of the first things that probably comes to mind is Darwin, change, and perhaps even transformation. And you wouldn’t be wrong! In the French dictionary, evolution is defined as “the progressive transition from one state to another,” and as synonyms, Larousse offers “change — development — modification — movement.”
Today, I would like to talk to you about the evolution of the French language, both in France and in other French-speaking countries such as Canada, for example.
The French Language, Always in Motion
I have already talked to you about my grandmother and how she inspires me every day when I teach. If you haven’t read that article yet, feel free to take a look by clicking “here.” Why am I talking about her again today? Well, simply because the French she spoke is different from the French I speak, and even different from the French my mother speaks.
Why?
Because each of us belongs to a different generation, I could even say a different world. Of course, I understood what my grandmother was saying, and my mother and I understand each other when we talk, but sometimes there are interesting misunderstandings. These are a direct consequence of the language we use.
Every language evolves, changes, and adapts over the years, influenced by history, the immigration of people from other cultures, and also technological changes.
Words “Disappear” and Others “Appear”
To get an accurate list of vocabulary removed and added to the French dictionary, I invite you to visit the website of the Académie française, particularly the dictionary section. There, you will find the “New Words” and “Removed Words,” as well as many other fascinating details about the French vocabulary.
But why do some words disappear and others appear?
The answer is simple: because our society evolves, technologies change, and our language follows this movement, as it is the best representation of our culture and the culture of each country.
Changing mentalities
Our societies and cultures change. A hundred years ago, certain behaviours and certain people were not accepted in French society. It was therefore “acceptable” to name these individuals, with different behaviours and/or backgrounds, in a derogatory way. Today, the terms used back then are absolutely no longer acceptable and can even lead to penalties of up to one year in prison and/or a €45,000 fine.
New technologies
New technologies emerge and develop. When I say that, you think of today’s technologies (mobile phones, computers, and even the internet). But the telephone appeared in France in 1879; before that, no one used the word “telephone” because no one used telephones. But without going that far back in time, if today’s me spoke to me at the age of 1998, I think I would struggle to understand everything. Google didn’t exist before 1998, and social media even less so, and the list goes on.
Globalization
Globalization and the migration of people from one country to another have also had a big influence on a country’s language. Today, even though French culture remains tied to its Gallic history (for example: the numbers sixty, seventy, 80 – 90), its Latin history (French is a Latin language), today our French language is influenced by English and Arabic.
As you can see, our languages evolve alongside the changes in our societies.
Is This Change a Good Thing?
As always, there are people who like change and others less so, or not at all. This change is sometimes difficult, even impossible. I remember my grandmother, again and again, trying to stay in tune with society and the vocabulary my sister and I used. My father’s mother, however, did not want to change her way of speaking or adapt to our vocabulary; it was up to us to adapt to her level of language.
Whether we like these changes or not, they will happen. Our society is like that, always in motion and always made of change. And you, what do you think? Feel free to share your opinion in the comments, I’d love to know how you experience these linguistic and cultural evolutions.