Why is Lebanon so French?

History. The use of the French language is a legacy of the time of the French Crusades and France’s colonialism in the region, including its League of Nations mandate over Lebanon following World War I; as of 2004, some 20% of the population used French on a daily basis.

Is French still spoken in Lebanon?

Polyglot country Arabic is the official language of Lebanon, but English and French are widely used. Most Lebanese speak French – a legacy of France’s colonial rule – and the younger generation gravitates towards English.

Why do Lebanese speak Arabic?

The people of Lebanon blended their Aramaic with Arabic utilizing Arabic words in their spoken Aramaic, and from the 17 th to 20 th centuries, some of the Turkish language was incorporated. The Lebanese language kept developing and some French was introduced in the 20 th century.

Is French declining in Lebanon?

Twenty years ago, 70 percent of Lebanese school students studied in French. Today, that number has fallen to around 50 percent and is declining every year.

Does Beirut speak French?

Beirut, Lebanon’s cosmopolitan capital, is famous for the chaotic jumble of languages it contains. Arabic, French, and English mix and mingle in writing and in conversation. For visitors and locals alike, it can be hard to pin down just how they interact, and the unwritten rules for how they’re used.

What are the 28 French-speaking countries?

French is the official language** in Belgium, Benin, Burkina, Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Central, African, Republic, Chad, Comoros, Côte, d’Ivoire, Democratic, Republic, of, the, Congo, Djibouti, Equatorial, Guinea, France, Guinea, Haiti, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Mali, Monaco, Niger, Republic, of, the, Congo.

What Islamic countries speak French?

In most of these countries, Arabic is the official language (as well as Berber in some of the North African states). Nonetheless, French is still widely spoken in Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and Lebanon because of France’s colonial legacy.

Is Lebanese Arabic different?

SUMMARY: Lebanese (more broadly North Levantine) is influenced by Arabic (as well as other languages, such as Aramaic and Canaanite/Phoenician, plus its own local evolution), but it is not a version of Arabic (nor is it a version of Aramaic or Phoenician).

Do they speak French in Beirut?

Why do Lebanese speak English?

Following independence from France in 1946, the use of English began to grow in Lebanon in the wake of American influence through oil and business interests in the Middle East. By 1973, 26 percent of the 75 percent of Beirut who were multilingual spoke English.