Regional languages
Regional languages are the languages traditionally spoken in a part of the territory of the French Republic, the use of which often predates that of French. Very numerous, especially in the overseas territories (New Caledonia has about thirty regional languages, Guyana a dozen), their belonging to the French heritage is inscribed in the Constitution since 2008.
This list is based on that established in 1999 by Bernard Cerquiglini, updated over the years.
In mainland France
alsatian ; basque ; breton ; catalan ; corsican ; west flemish ; francique (in its various forms: Luxembourg Francique, Moselle Francique, Rhine Francique) ; francoprovencal Languages of oïl: burgundy-morvandiau, inhabitant of Champagne, freecomtois, gallo, from Lorraine, norman, picard, from Poitevin-Saintongeais, walloon ; occitan (in its various forms: Auvergne, Gascon, Languedoc, Limousin, Provençal, Vivaro-Alpin) ; crescent talks ; from Liguria.
Overseas
More than fifty languages are commonly spoken in the ultramarine territories. These languages are still widely transmitted in the family context and well present in the social sphere. While French remains the language of administration, public services and the media, it is often a second language, little or no practiced by certain categories of populations.
Based on this reality, the Ministry of Culture, in partnership with the French Overseas Ministry and the Ministry of National Education, organized the second edition of the États généraux du multilinguisme dans les Outre-mer (EGM-OM) from 25 to 28 October 2021 in La Réunion. Led by the DGLFLF, they aimed to conduct a collective reflection with the actors concerned by linguistic issues in the French overseas territories, with the aim of promoting a policy favourable to multilingualism in the fields of social and cultural life.
Several round tables were devoted to themes rarely addressed in the reflections around languages, and bearing innovative perspectives: environmental policies and indigenous knowledge; attractiveness of territories, economic life, regional mobility and integration; administrative services; public health and access to care for the population in a multilingual society.
guadeloupean creole ; creole from Martinique ; creole of Saint Martin.
arawak ; creole guyana ; hmong ; kali'na ; nenge (in its various forms: aluku, ndyuka, pamaka) ; palikur ; saamaka ; sranan tongo ; teko ; wayampi ; wayana.
creole from Reunion.
mahorais (shimaora), kibushi.
Grande Terre
ajië ; arhâ ; arhö ; caac ; cèmuhî ; Voh-Koohnê dialects (bwatoo, haeke, haveke, hmwaeke, hmwaveke, vamale, waamwang) ; drub ; fwâi ; hamlet ; jawe ; neku ; nêlêmwa-phwaxumwâk ; nemi ; numèè-kwényï ; nyelâyu ; 'ôrôê ; paicî ; pije ; pwaamei ; pwapwâ ; sîshëë ; tayo ; xârâcùù ; xârâgùrè ; yuanga-zuanga.
Loyalty Islands
drehu ; fagauvea ; iaai ; nengone.
Archipelago of the Society
tahiticn.
Marquesas Archipelago
marquisien.
Tuamotu Archipelago
t languageuamotu.
Gambiers Archipelago
mangarev.
Archipelago of the Australs
language of the Southern Islands (in its various forms: language of Ra'ivavae, language of Rimatara, language of Rurutu, language of Tupua'i) ; rapa language.
wallis ; futunian.
Appendices
For the inclusion in the Constitution in 2008 of "regional languages" as part of the "heritage of France", seeArticle 75-1 of the Constitution.
Partager la page