MACLEAN HIGH SCHOOL
LANGUAGE DEPARTMENT
YEAR 7 FRENCH
UNIT:
Cognates.
Name:…………………………………..
Date:…………………..
Due Date:………………………..
Mark:
/10
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The French-Speaking World
French is almost a universal language. It is, of course, the language of France, but it is used
as an official language in more than 25 other countries in the world. This means that governmental
affairs in those countries are conducted in French, official laws and regulations are written in
French, business is transacted in French, and schools use French as a language of instruction.
It is important to remember that the people in many of these countries may speak French as
a second or third language. Their own mother tongue is a local language; French is used to
communicate with people who do not share the same mother tongue.
In Asia, French is spoken in Laos, Vietnam, and Cambodia. In Africa, French is an official
language in over 20 countries. In fact, there are more people in Africa who speak French than
there are in France itself. People in Latin America, Haiti, French Guiana, St Martin, Guadaloupe,
and Martinique also speak French. (You may wish to consult a world map to locate continents and
countries).
It is also interesting to note that in the United States there are French-speaking communities
in Maine and Louisiana. Of course, many Canadians speak French as the home language in their
bilingual nation. French and English are the two official national languages of Canada.
Governmental business is conducted in both languages. Newspapers, radio and television
programs, and commercial and cultural events use both languages. Switzerland uses three official
languages - French, German and Italian - which are spoken as home languages in various regions
of the country.
Why do so many people in Africa and Asia speak French? During the nineteenth and early
twentieth centuries, France became a colonial power in the world. This means that the French
occupied and ruled countries of the world far from France itself. These countries sent many of their
raw products (such as copper from Zaire and cocoa from the Ivory Coast) back to France for
manufacturing into finished products. As the French governed these nations, they also established
schools and businesses which used the French Language. By 1960, these nations had become
independent, but they maintained French as their official and business language because so many
people spoke French.
People who can speak French well have an advantage in these countries because they have
access to jobs and to educational opportunities not open to people whose French language ability
is weak or nonexistent. In some respects, the ability to speak a language other than one’s native or
home tongue is a measure of an individual’s achievements and opportunities within the educational
and economic systems of his or her country. For example, a young person in Senegal who has
had the opportunity to learn French well has many advantages over a Senegalese student who has
had less opportunity to learn French, even though the latter student may speak two or three local
Senegalese languages.
French is used as a second language today in many areas of the world. It provides a
mutually understood tongue for communication among people who do not speak the same local
language. It serves as a unifying language in countries with many local languages. It provides
ready access to trade and communication with the French-speaking world and, thereby, access to
the international world of politics, economics, and culture.
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The French-Speaking World.
(Continued)
The examples given here reflect the positive impact of multilingual persons and nations.
Their positive attributes far outweigh the problems multilingualism can sometimes pose, but there
can be drawbacks. For example, many of the former French colonies in Africa must overcome the
psychological dilemma of using a foreign language as a national language. It is difficult for many to
accept the fact that the language of the colonizing power from another continent can best serve as
a national language.
Another potential problem in multilingual nations can be understood by looking at the
French-speaking group who think Quebec should be a separate nation. They want to withdraw
from Canada and form a French-speaking, independent nation in North America. They feel that the
French-speaking minority in Canada has been neglected in favour of the English-speaking majority.
This problem is important. It reflects the pride people have in their language and cultural identify.
Multilingual nations must take care to acknowledge and meet the needs of all their people,
regardless of mother tongue.
One place where governments meet to resolve international problems if the United Nations.
French is among the half-dozen official languages of the United Nations. If you visit the United
Nations in New York City, you will be able to hear translations into French from every other
language spoken by the delegates. Official documents published by the United Nations are written
in French. Anyone working as a guide for tourists visiting the United Nations must speak French.
Interpreters and translators who are experts in French are needed to serve the United Nations’
delegates as they debate the major problems of the world. It would be a challenging and
interesting career to become a linguist for the United Nations!
Note:
The nearest French speaking country to Australia
Is New Caledonia.
MAP OF NEW CALEDONIA
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The French-Speaking World.
Africa
Central African Republic
Chad
Congo
Guinea
Ivory Coast
Mail
Burundi
Senegal
Rwanda
Zaire
Caribbean Islands
Guadaloupe
Martinique
Haiti
(Continued).
Europe
Belgium
France
Monaco
Switzerland *
Luxembourg
North America
Canada:
Quebec **
United States: ***
Maine
Louisiana
South America
French Guiana
French is also spoken in several other small countries and small islands of the world that are not
listed here.
*
**
***
French is one of the three official languages of Switzerland.
Quebec is a bilingual province, whose population speaks both French and English.
Some French-speaking people from Europe settled in Maine and Louisiana during the
colonial period.
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FRENCH QUIZ
The answers to this quiz are all French words that have become part of the English
language. (Each stroke represents one letter).
1.
The main road going from Queanbeyan to Canberra is called Canberra _ _ _ _ _ _.
2.
You order and pay for your dinner in a _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _.
3.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ is a white bubbly wine drunk to celebrate special occasions.
4.
The head cook is called the _ _ _ _.
5.
Coffee and a sandwich can be ordered in a _ _ _ _.
6.
In a restaurant you order from the _ _ _ _.
7.
A bunch of flowers is a _ _ _ _ _ _ _.
8.
If you are rich you might have a _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ to drive your car.
9.
When you are away from home for a night you might stay in a h _ _ _ _.
10. My brother and his f _ _ _ _ _ _ are getting married next year.
11. This pancakes are called _ _ _ _ _ _.
12. Distances are measured in k _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ and c _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _.
13. Liquids are measured in l _ _ _ _ _.
14. My mother is very sick and needs to go into h _ _ _ _ _ _ _ for an _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _.
15. My aunt and uncle are travelling overseas so we went to the airport to wish them b _ _
v _ _ _ _ _.
16. The parliamentary leader of the government in N.S.W. is called the _ _ _ _ _ _ _.
17. Weights are measured in g _ _ _ _ and k _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _.
18. I really enjoy b _ _ _ _ _, so last night I went to see Swan Lake.
19. I love knitting but I would love to be able to _ _ _ _ _ _ _ like my grandmother.
20. When people meet, it is sometimes called a _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _.
Do you also know what these are:
Beret, fiancé, boutique, boulevard, rosé, premiere, début, débutante, R.S.V.P. (répondez
s’il vous plait), lingerie, rivulet, petit paint, pot pourri, gourmet, camouflage, connoisseur,
née?
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C’est la même chose en anglais!
E.
Some French words are English, too!
Here is a list of some words and phrases that
have been borrowed from French.
_____________________________________
gàteau
chalet
souvenir
rendez-vous
A.
B.
C.
D.
soufflé
mousse
quiche
purée
meringue
caramel
ballet
coup d’état
manoeuvre
résumé
à la mode
début
R.S.V.P.
(Répondez,
s’il vous
plait)
Say the words and phrases with a
French accent.
Explain what they mean.
Why do you think there are many words
to do with food and cooking?
Can you think of any other French words
or phrases that we use in English?
La franglais
The French have borrowed English and
American words. When people speak
French with a lot of English words it is
called le franglais. Sometimes French
people take English words and use
them in a different way. For example,
un speaker is a television and radio
announcer, not someone who is
speaking.
Read the list of English words that are
used in French. Note that they are le
words. Try saying these words with a
French accent.
le sport
le pyjama
le week-end
le bowling
le sandwich
le cowboy
le hot-dog
le camping
le steak
le T-shirt
le hit-parade
le bulldozer
Look at the sign:
a.
Find an example of
le franglais in this
sign.
a.
Which French word
meaning ‘customers’
is also used in
English.
When you talk to French people or visit
France, find some more franglais to add
to this list.
_____________________________________
_____________________________________
_____________________________________
_____________________________________
There are some words used in French—and in
English—that come from the names of French
people:

Braille is a system of
raised dots that allows
blind people to read. It
was invented by Louis
Braille (1809-52) who
was himself blinded at
the age of three.

A silhouette takes its name
from Étienne de Silhouette
(1709-67)) who liked to make
portraits of people cut out of
paper. Until photographs were
invented in the 19th century,
silhouette portraits were very
popular.
Lexique
There are some words and phrases in French
that you can’t do without!
Bonjour
Hello
Bonsoir
Good evening
Bonne nuit
Good night
Salut
Hi
Ca va?
How are you?
Ca va
Fine/OK
Je m’appelle…
My name is…
Pardon
Excuse me
S’il vous plaît
Please
Merci
Thank you
Au revoir
Goodbye
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-8French Words used in the English Language
Write the dictionary definition for each word
1. adieu
2. à la carte
3. à la mode
4. attaché
5. au courant
6. avalanche
7. avenue
8. ballet
9. beau
10. belle
11. biscuit
12. blasé
13. bon voyage
14. boudoir
15. boulevard
16. boutique
17. buffet
18. bureau
19. cabaret
20. camouflage
21. carte blanche
22. chaise
23. champagne
24. chassis
25. chef
26. chic
27. coiffure
28. coup d’état
29. coupon
30. cuisine
31. cul de sac
32. derriere
33. detour
34. dossier
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-9French Words used in the English Language
Write the dictionary definition for each word
35. elite
36. en route
37. entrée
38. entre nous
39. envoy
40. esprit de corps
41. facade
42. faux pas
43. fiancé
44. gourmet
45. homage
46. hors d’oeuvre
47. laissez faire
48. lingerie
49. matinée
50. naïve
51. nom de plume
52. nonchalant
53. nouveau riche
54. par excellence
55. parole
56. raison d’être
57. rendezvous
58. résumé
59. rouge
60. RSVP
61. sabotage
62. savoir-faire
63. tête-à-tête
64. touceé
65. vase
66. vis-à-vis
67. vogue
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French and English Cognates
1. visite
visit
26. habitude
habit
2. table
table
27. paix
peace
3. suspendre
to suspend
28. parade
parade
4. supposer
to suppose
29. poème
poem
5. retour
return
30. prolonger
to prolong
6. rentrer
to re-enter
31. recevoir
to receive
7. prononcer
to pronounce
32. riche
rich
8. promesse
promise
33. toucher
to touch
9. présenter
to present
34. branche
branch
10. posséder
to possess
35. carrière
career
11. patience
patience
36. célébrer
to celebrate
12. palais
palace
37. communiquer
to communicate
13. organe
organ
38. complet
complete
14. ordre
order
39. crème
cream
15. ordinaire
ordinary
40. critique
critical
16. animer
to animate
41. difficulté
difficulty
17. apologie
apology
42. garde
guard
18. appartement
apartment
43. inventer
to invent
19. artiste
artist
44. mariage
marriage
20. balcon
balcony
45. méthode
method
21. miracle
miracle
46. modèle
model
22. natif
native
47. opinion
opinion
23. notoire
notorious
48. police
police
24. pacte
pact
49. profit
profit
25. simple
simple
50. sinistre
sinister
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C’est français
Here are some ways of doing things à la française (the French way):
People like to shake
hands when they meet,
even if they know each
other. When they know
each other very well,
they kiss on the cheek.
This is called
<<faire la bise>>.
If you accidentally bump into
someone, say <<Pardon
Monsieur>> or <<Madame>>
or <<Mademoiselle>>,
depending on who the
person is.
When you have had enough to
eat and do not want any more.
Say <<Merci>> to mean
‘No thank you’.
For le petit déjeuner
(breakfast) it is the custom to
dip your tartiness (bread and
butter) into your café au lait
or chocolat chaud.
French people are very proud
of la cuisine francaise (French
cooking). When you have
something to eat that you like,
make sure you say
<<C’est très bon!>>
Speaking another language is something like acting.
You have to learn your lines and think yourself into the part.
Even if you feel shy, always try to speak le français when you
meet les Français or are able to visit la France.
By practising talking to French people—and listening
carefully—you can learn a lot.
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L’Alphabet
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