In A Global Village, Why Learn French?

As I get older and experience the way the world is in a continuous state of flux, I am amazed constantly. For example, when I was in the 7th grade and contemplating a language course decision, only three languages were offered. They were Latin, French, and Spanish. Today my choices would be more numerous and more diverse. Then, in Junior High School, the French teaching staff successfully marketed French to me as the “international language,” a “living” language — the language of literature, politics, romance, film, fashion, wine, and food! Much later, when I majored in Art, I also came to know the great degree to which the French and their language influenced the course of western history, philosophy, fine art, and our civilization in general. I have been and remain happy with my choice to study French. I did notice, however, that on my recent last trip to France my French was not as necessary as it had been on my first trip to France in 1973. Since my French is now a wee bit rusty, I am fortunate that most of the people I encountered were multilingual and, more importantly, that one of those languages spoken was English! On some level I know that the “popularity” of a language comes from how many people actually speak the language as a primary language in addition to how great the political, economical, social, and geographical influences of those people are. In the not so distant past, colonialism had a lot to do with it. Today birthrate, population, longevity, geographical area, and immigration are major contributing factors plus whatever influences remain from colonialism. Given this, it should come as no great surprise for me to learn that the French language today is not even in the top ten. It was eye-opening nonetheless to learn that, depending upon which list is used, French places either number 11 or 12. Today’s most widely spoken languages in descending order are: Mandarin Chinese, English, Hindu/Urdu, Spanish, Russian, Arabic, Bengali, Portuguese, Indonesian, Japanese, German, French, and then over 5000 other languages. Further revelation that the world as I understand it is changing significantly came recently as I watched David J. Smith on Public Television. During one of my “channel check” moments with my remote control, I landed on a captivating program where he was teaching children about the world today and their place in it. And, he was doing it by comparing the world to a village of 100 people. A child (and I) might have a difficult time grasping the concept of a world of 6 billion people, but a village of 100 people is something we can conceptualize. In this village, for example, 22 people speak a Chinese dialect, 20 earn less than a dollar a day, 32 are of the Christian faith, 17 cannot read or write, and 39 are under 19 years old. The book,If The World Were A Village: A Book About The World’s People by David J. Smith, Shelagh Armstrong (Illustrator), that this TV program was based on is suitable for the 9-12 year old reader. Click here to order the book! All of this new information raises the question for me, “Is studying French as a secondary language still relevant today?” The answer is a resounding, “Yes, for all of my original reasons plus a few more.” After all, in a world of 6 billion people, learning a language that is the twelfth most widely spoken and understood language is still a meaningful thing. Also, if one loves the culture, one must love the language. If living or traveling in France is a true desire, then it is simply good form and respectful to learn the language of the country in which one plans to immerse oneself. Is it absolutely necessary? Not really, but it is more fun if one does. Finally, the study of any language is the basis of all communication and, ultimately, of greater world understanding. Language and communication are among the very tools with which we are at the same time expanding and — in another sense — shrinking this incredible world we all inhabit. Copyright © Barbara Bertschy