Francophone

Francophone

The adjective francophone (alternately Francophone) means French-speaking, typically as primary language, whether referring to individuals, groups, or places. Often, the word is used as a noun to describe a natively French-speaking person. [ [http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?book=Dictionary&va=Francophone va=Francophone - Definition from the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary ] ] [ [http://encarta.msn.com/encnet/features/dictionary/DictionaryResults.aspx?refid=1861613318 francophone definition - Dictionary - MSN Encarta ] ]

In a narrower sense, the notion of "francophone" reaches beyond the dictionary definition of "French language speaker". The term specifically refers to people whose cultural background is primarily associated with French language, regardless of ethnic and geographical differences. The francophone culture beyond Europe is the legacy of the French colonial empire and that of Belgium (Congo, Burundi and Rwanda).

Mainly or partially francophone countries include France, Belgium (Wallonia is almost entirely francophone, and there is a large French-speaking community in the Brussels-Capital Region and a few bordering municipalities), Canada (the province of Quebec is mostly francophone, and there are large French-speaking communities in Ontario, New Brunswick and other Canadian provinces), Switzerland, Haiti, Lebanon and the French West Indies, several countries in Africa that are former French or Belgian colonies, and Tahiti in the South Pacific. These countries are members of the "Francophonie" organization. [fr icon [http://www.francophonie.org/oif/membres.cfm Member states of the "Francophonie" organization] ]

thumb|300px|right|">"Legend" :

▪ Francophone minorities

ee also

*Acadiana region, Louisiana
*Anglophone
*Anglosphere
*Cajun
*Francophonie
*Francophile
*Francophobia
*French Canadian
*
*List of countries where French is an official language
*Spoken languages of Canada
*Lusophone, Hispanophone, Russophone

Footnotes


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  • francophone — [ frɑ̃kɔfɔn ] adj. et n. • 1880, répandu v. 1960; de franco et phone 1 ♦ Qui parle habituellement le français, au moins dans certaines circonstances de la communication, comme langue première ou seconde. Les Africains francophones. ♢ (En parlant… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Francophone — Francophone, Francophonic Francophonicprop. a. Able to communicate in the French language; used especially of those whose native language is French. Syn: French speaking. [PJC] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Francophone — 1900, from FRANCO (Cf. Franco ) + PHONE (Cf. phone) …   Etymology dictionary

  • Francophone — [fraŋ′kə fōn΄] [also f ] adj. [ FRANCO + Gr phōnē, a voice] of or having to do with speakers of French n. a person who speaks French Francophonic [fraŋ΄kōfän′ik] adj …   English World dictionary

  • Francophone — Francophonie Le drapeau de la Francophonie représente les 5 continents La francophonie désigne un ensemble d États et gouvernements ayant le français en commun. Sommaire …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Francophone — Fran|co|phone francophone [ˈfræŋkəuˌfəun US kouˌfoun] adj [Date: 1900 2000; Origin: Franco + Greek phone voice ] having French as a first or main language Francophone countries/nations/communities >Francophone n …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • francophone — fran|co|phone [ fræŋkə,foun ] adjective speaking French as the main language. Someone who is francophone can be called a francophone …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • francophone — adjective 1 having a French speaking population: francophone countries 2 from a French speaking country or population: francophone African literature …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

  • francophone — UK [ˈfræŋkəʊˌfəʊn] / US [ˈfræŋkəˌfoʊn] adjective speaking French as the main language. Someone who is francophone can be called a francophone …   English dictionary

  • francophone — adjective Usage: often capitalized Date: 1962 of, having, or belonging to a population using French as its first or sometimes second language • Francophone noun …   New Collegiate Dictionary

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