he same 26 letter Latin alphabet that is used in the English language, however there are an additional five diacritics and two ligatures. The letters “w” and “k” are not used particularly often, except in loanwords or regional words. The earliest recorded example of written French is in the Oaths of Strasbourg from 842- this is written in an early form of French called Romance or Gallo-Romance. In 1989, then French Prime Minister Michel Rocard appointed the Conseil supérieur de la langue française (Superior Council of the French Language) to introduce the most recent round of reforms to the written French language. An example of these reforms include joining written numbers with hyphens (huit-cent-mille-cinq-cent-et-un = 800,501), These reforms are commonly known as “rectifications orthographiques” and were published on 6 December 1990.
Culture, Etiquette & Customs
The culture of France is rich and varied, which is a point of national pride. The term “le métissage culturel” refers to the cultural blending present in France, which can be compared to the US concept of the “melting-pot”.
Mainland France is devised of thirteen separate administrative regions (known as département in French), and each possesses its own unique culture. However, since the Renaissance, a centralization of culture has been promoted, centering around Paris and, to a lesser extent, other major urban areas. This has coincided with a movement of the French people from the countryside to urban areas.
There is a noticeable difference between the rural and urban areas of France. La France Profonde (“Deep France”) is a term used to describe the aspects of French culture in rural France that are not present in urban areas such as Paris. Terroir is an expression applied to regional produce, originally wine and coffee. The unique environmental contexts and farming practices are said to give particular products, including, but not limited to, chocolate, tobacco and hops, a certain character that is unique to the region of production. France holds a rich culinary tradition that is well known worldwide. Indeed, UNESCO added French gastronomy to its list of the world’s intangible cultural heritage. The cuisine of France is varied, but the country is particularly well known for cheese and wine production. France is the third largest producer of cheese in the world (after the USA and Germany) and consumes more cheese per capita than any other country. France also produces more wine than any other country, and is home to well-known grape varieties such as chardonnay and pinot noir.
Arriving on time for dinner is very important in France. It is expected that you should call and explain that you are delayed if you are due to arrive over 10 minutes late for an appointment. You should start eating when invited to, i.e. “bon appetit”. Cross your knife and fork on your plate with the fork over the knife if you have not finished eating and do not rest your elbows on the table. Your arms should be visible and not resting in your lap. Flowers and wine are often given as gifts. Flowers should be given in odd-numbered bunches, but not in a bunch of thirteen which is considered to be bad luck. Wine should always be of the highest quality. Gifts tend to be opened on receipt rather than being set aside to be opened later.
France is renowned as a leading hub of fashion. Indeed, Paris is home to many renowned fashion designers including Chanel, Dior and Yves Saint Laurent, amongst many others. The Paris Fashion Week is held biannually and is renowned as one of the “Big 4” fashion weeks, along with London, Milan and New York. French business attire is stylish and understated: men should wear dark-coloured, formal suits. Women can also wear business suits or formal dresses in soft colours. First impressions are largely influenced by appearance. Accessories should be of high quality.
Freedom of religion is a very important concept in France: it is guaranteed through the 1789 Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen. The French Republic is based on the principle of laïcité