Difference between revisions of "Language/French/Pronunciation/France-Regional-Accents"

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Hello there, French learners!


Although regional languages ​​such as Breton, Basque or Alsatian tend to disappear because they are less and less practiced, each region in mainland France retains a distinct accent and proper expressions.  
In this French pronunciation lesson, we'll be exploring the fascinating topic of regional accents in France. By the end of this article, you'll have a better understanding of the distinct accents and expressions that characterize different regions of mainland France. While regional languages such as Breton, Basque, and Alsatian are unfortunately becoming less and less commonly spoken, the various regions of France still retain their own unique accents and idioms. From the rolling "r" sounds of the south to the clipped consonants of the north, each region boasts its own distinct linguistic flavor.


A tour of the most famous French regional accents!
We'll start by providing a brief overview of French regional accents before delving into the specific characteristics of each accent. We'll discuss the distinct phonetic features and vocabulary that define each accent and provide examples of how to recognize and reproduce them. In addition to exploring the regional accents, we'll also introduce you to an interactive sound atlas that allows you to listen to various French accents and dialects.


'''Feel free to edit this wiki page.'''
Finally, we'll examine the question of whether French accents are in danger of disappearing altogether in today's globalized world. So, join us as we take a tour of some of the most famous regional accents in France. By the end of this lesson, you'll be able to recognize and differentiate between these diverse linguistic traditions.


Will you recognize them and differentiate them? 
And as always, please feel free to edit this wiki page and add your own insights and observations.


Let's get started!
Some of the most famous accents include:
<span link>Don't miss the chance to check out these pages as you wrap up this lesson:</span> [[Language/French/Pronunciation/b-and-p|b and p]], [[Language/French/Pronunciation/Alphabet-and-Pronunciation|Learn the French Alphabet]], [[Language/French/Pronunciation/Aspirated-VS-non-aspirated-h|Aspirated VS non aspirated h]] & [[Language/French/Pronunciation/Accents-(advanced-level)|Accents (advanced level)]].
==French regional accents, in short==
==French regional accents, in short==
 
Each region of France has a unique accent that is influenced by the ancient languages and dialects that were spoken in the area. Prior to the Second World War, there were even regions where French was only spoken in schools. This has resulted in each language leaving its own mark on regional accents, which can be heard in the varying pronunciations of certain words throughout the country.
Each region of France has a particular accent that comes from ancient languages ​​or dialects. Before the Second World War, there were areas where people spoke French only at school. Therefore, each of these languages ​​has left traces that are at the root of today's regional accents. We notice in particular that certain words are pronounced differently according to the regions.


Here is an overview of the different regional accents in French :
Here is a brief overview of the different regional accents in French:


<youtube>Egrfsn2CU8E</youtube>
<youtube>Egrfsn2CU8E</youtube>


Some of the most famous accents include
== Comparison Accents Table ==
{| class="wikitable"
!Regional Accents in France
!Example Word
!Standard French Pronunciation
!IPA Pronunciation
!Accent Description
|-
|Parisian
|Bonjour
|bɔ̃ʒuʁ
|bɔ̃ʒuʁ
|This is considered the standard French accent, spoken in Paris and the surrounding region. It is characterized by its lack of strong regional features and its clarity of pronunciation.
|-
|Southern French or "Midi" Accent
|Soleil
|sɔlɛj
|sɔlɛj
|This accent is spoken in the southern part of France, particularly in regions such as Provence and the Languedoc. It is characterized by its sing-song quality, with a rising and falling intonation pattern.
|-
|Northern French or "Ch'tis" Accent
|Pain
|pɛ̃
|pɛ̃
|This accent is spoken in the northern part of France, particularly in regions such as Normandy and Picardy. It is characterized by its nasality, with the pronunciation of "en" and "in" sounds being more nasal than in other accents.
|-
|Brittany or Breton Accent
|Beurre
|bœʁ
|bœʁ
|This accent is spoken in the Brittany region of France. It is characterized by its guttural "r" sound, which is pronounced further back in the throat than in other accents.
|-
|Alsace or Alsatian Accent
|Bière
|bjɛʁ
|bjɛʁ
|This accent is spoken in the Alsace region of France, which has historically been influenced by German culture. It is characterized by its strong Germanic influence, with the pronunciation of "eu" and "oi" sounds being more similar to German than to standard French.
|-
|Lorraine Accent
|Pomme
|pɔm
|pɔm
|This accent is spoken in the Lorraine region of France, which is located in the northeast. It is characterized by its similarity to the Parisian accent, but with a slight regional inflection.
|-
|Normandy Accent
|Fleur
|flœʁ
|flœʁ
|This accent is spoken in the Normandy region of France, which is located in the northwest. It is characterized by its nasality, similar to the Northern accent, but with a softer and more melodic intonation.
|-
|Occitan Accent
|Merci
|mɛrsi
|mɛrsi
|This accent is spoken in the Occitanie region of France, which includes parts of the south and southwest of the country. It is characterized by its similarity to Catalan and Spanish, with a softer "s" sound and the pronunciation of "u" and "eu" sounds being more rounded.
|-
|Corsican Accent
|Mare
|maʁe
|maʁe
|This accent is spoken in Corsica, which is an island located southeast of mainland France. It is characterized by its distinctive intonation and the pronunciation of "a" and "e" sounds being more open and pronounced than in other accents.
|}
 
* Note: IPA symbols are enclosed in slashes (/ /) and are used to represent the sounds of speech in a standardized way.
 
==Parisian accent (l'accent parisien)==
 
Parisian Accent: This is the accent most commonly associated with French, and is spoken by many people in and around Paris. It is characterized by its clear pronunciation and lack of regional dialect.
 
The Parisian accent has long been chosen as a model. But the French of the South find that Parisians have a sharp accent! Indeed, this accent has particular phonetic aspects! For example, the sound / ɑ / is replaced by / a / and the sounds / ø / and / ə / are pronounced [ø]. 


==Southern accent or "Midi" accent==
We have no video to present the Parisian accent. Just watch the "Journal de 20h" (8 p.m. evening news) and you'll hear it. It's the standard "TV accent".
 
==Southern French or "Midi" Accent (l'accent du midi)==


There are several accents in the '''south of France''', influenced by Oc languages ​​(Romance languages ​​formed from the evolution of Latin). They include Provençal and its various variants: Marseille, Toulon, Nice, etc.
Southern Accent: The accent spoken in the south of France is often described as more melodic and relaxed, with longer vowels and softer consonants.
There are several accents in the '''south of France''', influenced by Oc languages ​​(Romance languages ​​formed from the evolution of Latin). They include Provençal and its various variants: Marseille, Toulon, Nice, Toulouse etc.


The inhabitants of the South West, marked by the influence of Occitan, retain a pronounced accent, especially in the Toulouse region. For example, they say "s" at the end of the word "moins" (minus).
The inhabitants of the South West, marked by the influence of Occitan, retain a pronounced accent, especially in the Toulouse region. For example, they say "s" at the end of the word "moins" (minus).
Line 29: Line 106:
<youtube>V44E_YanQsg</youtube> 
<youtube>V44E_YanQsg</youtube> 


==The Northern accent==
==Northern French or "Ch'tis" Accent (l'accent Ch'tis)==
 
In the '''North''', the accent is also very strong and some people speak '''Ch'timi'''. It is influenced by languages ​​of oïl. These gather several dialects of the north: Norman, Picardy, Walloon, Champagne, Lorraine Roman, Burgundy ...
In the '''North''', the accent is also very strong and some people speak '''Ch'timi'''. It is influenced by languages ​​of oïl. These gather several dialects of the north: Norman, Picardy, Walloon, Champagne, Lorraine Roman, Burgundy ...
Not all Northerners have the accent and it varies by region and generation. Listen to the Northern accent and discover expressions Ch'ti!
Not all Northerners have the accent and it varies by region and generation. Listen to the Northern accent and discover expressions Ch'ti!
"'''Bienvenue Chez les Ch'tis'''" is a famous French movie :
"'''Bienvenue Chez les Ch'tis'''" is a famous French movie withe Danny Boon as the main role :
 
<youtube>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-HvWT42kSX0</youtube>
 
== Brittany or Breton Accent (l'accent breton) ==
Breton Accent: The Breton accent is spoken in Brittany, and is characterized by its use of nasal vowels and a slightly more guttural sound.
 
Discover the accent of Brittany in this video! 


<youtube>j08l4qKSvc8</youtube>
<youtube>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6pruJUkBuWk</youtube>


==The Parisian accent==
== Alsace or Alsatian Accent (l'accent alsacien) ==  
It is similar to the German accent but with different intonations. The Alsace accent is spoken in the northeastern region of France, near the German border. It has a distinct Germanic influence and can be difficult to understand for those not familiar with it.


The Parisian accent has long been chosen as a model. But the French of the South find that Parisians have a sharp accent! Indeed, this accent has particular phonetic aspects! For example, the sound / ɑ / is replaced by / a / and the sounds / ø / and / ə / are pronounced [ø]. 
Discover the accent of Alsace in this video!


==The Lorraine accent==
<youtube>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=boDKlzcenuk</youtube>


It is similar to German but with different intonations. We say "wi" instead of "oui" and the "t" of "vingt" is pronounced ...  
== Lorraine accent (l'accent lorrain)==
It is similar to Alsace accent (Lorraine is close to Alsace) and this to German accent with also different intonations. We say "wi" instead of "oui" and the "t" of "vingt" is pronounced ...  


Discover the accent of Lorraine in this documentary! 
Discover the accent of Lorraine in this documentary! 


<youtube>3mbChyYpG6Y</youtube>
<youtube>3mbChyYpG6Y</youtube>
== The Normandy accent (l'accent normand)==
Normandy Accent: The Normandy accent is spoken in the northwest of France, and is characterized by its use of the "ch" sound instead of "sh" and a tendency to drop the final consonants in words.
Discover the accent of Normandy in this video!
<youtube>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GIKT4_vC-0k</youtube>
==Occitan Accent (l'accent occitan)==
The Occitan accent is spoken in the southern part of France, and is influenced by the Occitan language, which is a Romance language spoken in the region. It is characterized by its use of nasal vowels and a sing-song quality.
<youtube>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqNK3Ce1MHE</youtube>
==Corsican Accent (l'accent corse)==
The Corsican accent is spoken on the island of Corsica, and has a distinctive Italian influence, with rolled "r" sounds and a musical quality.
Discover the accent of Corsica in this video!
<youtube>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9NuOuTVtTk</youtube>


==An interactive sound Atlas==
==An interactive sound Atlas==
Line 61: Line 165:
In most ways of speaking French, the rolled "r" was almost lost. It is still heard a little, only among older speakers.
In most ways of speaking French, the rolled "r" was almost lost. It is still heard a little, only among older speakers.


==Sources==
That's all for today.


*https://www.courslangues.com/paris/cours-francais/accents-regionaux-francais
Feel free to edit this page if you want/can and if you see errors in English (I'm French).


*https://www.ifalpes.com/blog/different-regions-of-france-have-different-accents/
Vincent
==Sources==
* https://www.courslangues.com/paris/cours-francais/accents-regionaux-francais
* https://www.ifalpes.com/blog/different-regions-of-france-have-different-accents/
* https://atlas.limsi.fr/
* Comments: https://www.reddit.com/r/French/comments/bw9rtw/languagefrenchpronunciationfranceregionalaccents/


*https://atlas.limsi.fr/
==Other Lessons==
* [[Language/French/Pronunciation/Accents|Accents]]
* [[Language/French/Pronunciation/Aspirated-VS-non-aspirated-h|Aspirated VS non aspirated h]]
* [[Language/French/Pronunciation/Alphabet-and-Pronunciation|Alphabet and Pronunciation]]
* [[Language/French/Pronunciation/How-to-pronounce-R|How to pronounce R]]
* [[Language/French/Pronunciation/Alphabet-and-Pronunciation|Alphabet and Pronunciation]]
* [[Language/French/Pronunciation/b-and-p|b and p]]
* [[Language/French/Pronunciation/Liaisons|Liaisons]]
* [[Language/French/Pronunciation/Silent-Final-Consonants|Silent Final Consonants]]
* [[Language/French/Pronunciation/Accents-(advanced-level)|Accents (advanced level)]]
<span links></span>

Latest revision as of 22:18, 26 March 2023

Polyglot-club-france-regional-accents.jpg

Hello there, French learners!

In this French pronunciation lesson, we'll be exploring the fascinating topic of regional accents in France. By the end of this article, you'll have a better understanding of the distinct accents and expressions that characterize different regions of mainland France. While regional languages such as Breton, Basque, and Alsatian are unfortunately becoming less and less commonly spoken, the various regions of France still retain their own unique accents and idioms. From the rolling "r" sounds of the south to the clipped consonants of the north, each region boasts its own distinct linguistic flavor.

We'll start by providing a brief overview of French regional accents before delving into the specific characteristics of each accent. We'll discuss the distinct phonetic features and vocabulary that define each accent and provide examples of how to recognize and reproduce them. In addition to exploring the regional accents, we'll also introduce you to an interactive sound atlas that allows you to listen to various French accents and dialects.

Finally, we'll examine the question of whether French accents are in danger of disappearing altogether in today's globalized world. So, join us as we take a tour of some of the most famous regional accents in France. By the end of this lesson, you'll be able to recognize and differentiate between these diverse linguistic traditions.

And as always, please feel free to edit this wiki page and add your own insights and observations.

Let's get started!

Some of the most famous accents include:

Don't miss the chance to check out these pages as you wrap up this lesson: b and p, Learn the French Alphabet, Aspirated VS non aspirated h & Accents (advanced level).

French regional accents, in short[edit | edit source]

Each region of France has a unique accent that is influenced by the ancient languages and dialects that were spoken in the area. Prior to the Second World War, there were even regions where French was only spoken in schools. This has resulted in each language leaving its own mark on regional accents, which can be heard in the varying pronunciations of certain words throughout the country.

Here is a brief overview of the different regional accents in French:

Comparison Accents Table[edit | edit source]

Regional Accents in France Example Word Standard French Pronunciation IPA Pronunciation Accent Description
Parisian Bonjour bɔ̃ʒuʁ bɔ̃ʒuʁ This is considered the standard French accent, spoken in Paris and the surrounding region. It is characterized by its lack of strong regional features and its clarity of pronunciation.
Southern French or "Midi" Accent Soleil sɔlɛj sɔlɛj This accent is spoken in the southern part of France, particularly in regions such as Provence and the Languedoc. It is characterized by its sing-song quality, with a rising and falling intonation pattern.
Northern French or "Ch'tis" Accent Pain pɛ̃ pɛ̃ This accent is spoken in the northern part of France, particularly in regions such as Normandy and Picardy. It is characterized by its nasality, with the pronunciation of "en" and "in" sounds being more nasal than in other accents.
Brittany or Breton Accent Beurre bœʁ bœʁ This accent is spoken in the Brittany region of France. It is characterized by its guttural "r" sound, which is pronounced further back in the throat than in other accents.
Alsace or Alsatian Accent Bière bjɛʁ bjɛʁ This accent is spoken in the Alsace region of France, which has historically been influenced by German culture. It is characterized by its strong Germanic influence, with the pronunciation of "eu" and "oi" sounds being more similar to German than to standard French.
Lorraine Accent Pomme pɔm pɔm This accent is spoken in the Lorraine region of France, which is located in the northeast. It is characterized by its similarity to the Parisian accent, but with a slight regional inflection.
Normandy Accent Fleur flœʁ flœʁ This accent is spoken in the Normandy region of France, which is located in the northwest. It is characterized by its nasality, similar to the Northern accent, but with a softer and more melodic intonation.
Occitan Accent Merci mɛrsi mɛrsi This accent is spoken in the Occitanie region of France, which includes parts of the south and southwest of the country. It is characterized by its similarity to Catalan and Spanish, with a softer "s" sound and the pronunciation of "u" and "eu" sounds being more rounded.
Corsican Accent Mare maʁe maʁe This accent is spoken in Corsica, which is an island located southeast of mainland France. It is characterized by its distinctive intonation and the pronunciation of "a" and "e" sounds being more open and pronounced than in other accents.
  • Note: IPA symbols are enclosed in slashes (/ /) and are used to represent the sounds of speech in a standardized way.

Parisian accent (l'accent parisien)[edit | edit source]

Parisian Accent: This is the accent most commonly associated with French, and is spoken by many people in and around Paris. It is characterized by its clear pronunciation and lack of regional dialect.

The Parisian accent has long been chosen as a model. But the French of the South find that Parisians have a sharp accent! Indeed, this accent has particular phonetic aspects! For example, the sound / ɑ / is replaced by / a / and the sounds / ø / and / ə / are pronounced [ø]. 

We have no video to present the Parisian accent. Just watch the "Journal de 20h" (8 p.m. evening news) and you'll hear it. It's the standard "TV accent".  

Southern French or "Midi" Accent (l'accent du midi)[edit | edit source]

Southern Accent: The accent spoken in the south of France is often described as more melodic and relaxed, with longer vowels and softer consonants. There are several accents in the south of France, influenced by Oc languages ​​(Romance languages ​​formed from the evolution of Latin). They include Provençal and its various variants: Marseille, Toulon, Nice, Toulouse etc.

The inhabitants of the South West, marked by the influence of Occitan, retain a pronounced accent, especially in the Toulouse region. For example, they say "s" at the end of the word "moins" (minus).

To recognize the accent and practice reproducing the southern accent, watch the excerpt from the film "Jean de Florette" (Marcel Pagnol).

 

Northern French or "Ch'tis" Accent (l'accent Ch'tis)[edit | edit source]

In the North, the accent is also very strong and some people speak Ch'timi. It is influenced by languages ​​of oïl. These gather several dialects of the north: Norman, Picardy, Walloon, Champagne, Lorraine Roman, Burgundy ... Not all Northerners have the accent and it varies by region and generation. Listen to the Northern accent and discover expressions Ch'ti! "Bienvenue Chez les Ch'tis" is a famous French movie withe Danny Boon as the main role :

Brittany or Breton Accent (l'accent breton)[edit | edit source]

Breton Accent: The Breton accent is spoken in Brittany, and is characterized by its use of nasal vowels and a slightly more guttural sound.

Discover the accent of Brittany in this video! 

Alsace or Alsatian Accent (l'accent alsacien)[edit | edit source]

It is similar to the German accent but with different intonations. The Alsace accent is spoken in the northeastern region of France, near the German border. It has a distinct Germanic influence and can be difficult to understand for those not familiar with it.

Discover the accent of Alsace in this video!

Lorraine accent (l'accent lorrain)[edit | edit source]

It is similar to Alsace accent (Lorraine is close to Alsace) and this to German accent with also different intonations. We say "wi" instead of "oui" and the "t" of "vingt" is pronounced ...

Discover the accent of Lorraine in this documentary! 

The Normandy accent (l'accent normand)[edit | edit source]

Normandy Accent: The Normandy accent is spoken in the northwest of France, and is characterized by its use of the "ch" sound instead of "sh" and a tendency to drop the final consonants in words.

Discover the accent of Normandy in this video!

Occitan Accent (l'accent occitan)[edit | edit source]

The Occitan accent is spoken in the southern part of France, and is influenced by the Occitan language, which is a Romance language spoken in the region. It is characterized by its use of nasal vowels and a sing-song quality.

Corsican Accent (l'accent corse)[edit | edit source]

The Corsican accent is spoken on the island of Corsica, and has a distinctive Italian influence, with rolled "r" sounds and a musical quality.

Discover the accent of Corsica in this video!

An interactive sound Atlas[edit | edit source]

An interactive "sound atlas" was created by the CNRS to discover 126 languages ​​and regional French accents!

For each geographical location, an audio recording, as well as a transcript in phonetics are proposed.

Will French accents disappear?[edit | edit source]

The number of French people practicing the regional languages ​​is constantly decreasing.

We are in a phase of homogenization of pronunciations, especially among the youngest people.

In most ways of speaking French, the rolled "r" was almost lost. It is still heard a little, only among older speakers.

That's all for today.

Feel free to edit this page if you want/can and if you see errors in English (I'm French).

Vincent

Sources[edit | edit source]

Other Lessons[edit | edit source]