French Wasn’t Always the Language of France!

When we think of France today, we naturally associate it with the French language. But in the early years of the French Revolution, this was far from reality! In 1794, a revolutionary named Henri Grégoire conducted a linguistic survey and uncovered a startling fact: the majority of people in France did not speak French at all. According to his findings, only 3 million people (about 11% of the population) spoke the language fluently, and even fewer could write it.

A Country of Many Languages

Instead, most of France’s citizens spoke a variety of regional languages and dialects. In the south, Occitan—a Romance language with deep Latin roots—was dominant. In Brittany, Breton, a Celtic language, thrived. Basque, Alsatian, and Provençal were also widely spoken. This linguistic diversity was not just a cultural feature—it shaped how people communicated, traded, and even identified themselves.

For revolutionaries, however, this variety of languages was seen as an obstacle to national unity. In 1791, diplomat Charles-Maurice de Talleyrand had already declared that regional dialects were "remnants of feudalism" that needed to disappear. Grégoire’s report reinforced this idea, and by July 1794, the revolutionary administration took action: all official documents were required to be written in French, and no other language was to be used for public acts anywhere in the Republic.

The Survival of Regional Languages

But did this linguistic policy really erase regional languages? Not at all! Despite official attempts to impose French as the only language, regional dialects remained deeply rooted in communities across the country. Even today, languages like Occitan, Breton, Basque, and Alsatian continue to be spoken, taught, and even promoted by cultural associations. In fact, in recent years, there has been a resurgence of interest in these languages, with some schools offering bilingual education and efforts being made to protect France’s rich linguistic heritage.

So, next time you hear someone speaking a regional French dialect, remember—you’re hearing a living piece of history! 🌍🗣️

This article was inspired by historical research, including findings from History Facts.