Occitan Language vs French: Key Differences and History
Old town in the Occitan-speaking region and Notre-Dame Cathedral, Paris
Did you know that French isn't the only language with deep cultural roots in France? The Occitan language, known as langue d'oc offers a fascinating glimpse into the country's diverse linguistic history. While French dominates globally, Occitan, once widely spoken in southern France, carries its own unique heritage. If you're wondering how these two languages compare, you'll find that their differences go beyond vocabulary and pronunciation—they reflect centuries of cultural evolution. To better appreciate this contrast, you can explore A Very Short History of Occitan or dive into the 'Short History of French' subchapter of the How to Learn French Guide for a well-rounded perspective. Understanding these differences not only adds depth to your language learning but also connects you to the heart of France’s diverse traditions.
Historical Context of Occitan and French
Understanding the history of the Occitan and French languages is essential to grasp their differences today. These two languages, while sharing a Romance language origin, evolved in drastically different ways, reflecting the diverse cultural and political landscapes of France.
The Roots of the Occitan Language
By the tenth century, France was home to an array of different tongues (Gallo-Romances), each a mixture of Latin, Frankish, and other Germanic languages, in part reflecting the political variation of France, which had become a kaleidoscope of baronies, counties, duchies, and marches ruled by different nobles. By the fourteenth century, these languages had developed into two loose categories, corresponding to two different pronunciations of the word ‘yes’.
In the north, people tended to say oïl, whilst those south of the Loire generally pronounced it as oc. As such, the languages in the north were known as langues d’oïl (a term used interchangeably with Françoys), whilst those in the south were called langues d’oc. Both oïl and oc are derived from hoc, the Latin for ‘this’ or ’that’, which was used to say ‘yes’ at the time. People in the south tended to ignore the h, leaving oc, whilst those in the north reduced it to a mere o, attaching clarifiers such as o-je (‘yes for me’), o-nos (‘yes for us’), and o-vos (‘yes for you’). Speakers began to simplify this to o-il (‘yes for that’), eventually leading to the form seen today - oui.
Some of the most ‘important’ langues d’oïl were the dialects of Picardy, Normandy, Champagne, and Orléans, whilst others, such as those of Anjou, Poitiers, and Burgundy, were spoken far south of Paris. Another notable langue d’oïl was Walloon, a dialect spoken in what is now Belgium. No one is certain who first came up with these categorisations, but a reasonable guess is Dante Alighieri, who used the term langue d’oc in his De vulgari eloquentia of 1304, contrasting it with langue d’oïl and the Romance languages of Italy (Italo-Romances), dubbed langue de si. Though the categorisation seems to begin in the fourteenth century, the existence of two vague groups of languages may have dated back several centuries prior.
Although French emerged from the langues d’oïl, it was actually the langues d’oc that enjoyed more prestige during this period. Between the eleventh and twelfth centuries, itinerant musicians, known as troubadours, went from city to city across southern France, northern Italy, and parts of northern Spain, extolling the virtues of courtly love through sung poetry. Such was the literary prestige enjoyed by this new form of poetry, two southern rulers, the Count of Toulouse and the Duke of Aquitaine, found their influence expanded. In fact, many courts in Italy adopted langue d’oc during this period. The poetry of the southern troubadours was seen as superior to the epic poems of the north - the chansons de geste - which were perceived to be cruder.
By the time Dante made reference to the langue d’oc in 1304, it had suffered persecution at the hands of the French. Today, the various dialects that make up the langue d’oc are collectively referred to as Occitan, and it is still spoken in southern France. There’s also communities in Monaco, Italy, and Catalonia, with the total number of speakers thought to be around 790,000.
The expansion of French
Despite measures in 1853 and 1880 officially prohibiting the use of dialects, which were still being pejoratively referred to as patois, local languages survived relatively unblemished until the twentieth century. Urbanisation had forced many to adopt French as a common tongue, but most remained bilingual, and the National Institue of Statistics found that a third of French citizens born before 1920 continued to speak their local language to their children. However, many of these languages did enter a stage of decline, as the importance of French grew with the pressures of modernisation, military service, and the expansion of mass media. The lexicons of local languages were rarely able to keep pace with the array of new terms required to describe the changing realities of the age, and French invariably filled the void, thus relegating the importance of the dialects over time.
The French education system expanded greatly during the nineteenth century. By 1880, the number of primary schools had risen from 1,700 to 75,000, with 6.5 million boys and girls attending. As such, most French children knew at least some French by the 1880s. With the founding of the Ministry of National Education in 1880-81, Jules Ferry built upon this, making public school compulsory and free. The stages of schooling were organised into primary, secondary, and lycée. By the Second World War, almost every French citizen understood the language, although around half still spoke a regional language as their mother tongue.
The survival of Occitan
Fortunately, various writers and thinkers fought to save local languages. One of the most successful was Frédéric Mistral, a poet who sought to rekindle Occitan. In 1904, he became the first writer to win a Nobel Prize for literature written in a minority language. Although regional languages still face a battle to survive, efforts are being made for their preservation. Exactly how many there are depends on someone’s definition of languages and dialects, but it doesn’t really matter. Some could be considered languages, whilst others are more akin to a dialect. The important thing is that these tongues are varied, and cultural variation is something to be treasured.
If you’re interested in learning more about the history of French and Occitan, the How to Learn French Guide contains a detailed section called ‘A Short History of French’.
Carcassonne, south of France
Photo by Alain Bonnardeaux on Unsplash
Linguistic Features
To truly understand the Occitan language in comparison with French, diving into their linguistic features gives a clear picture of how these two Romance languages set themselves apart. Let's break this down into grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation.
Grammatical Structures
Occitan and French, while both stemming from Latin, prioritize grammar in unique ways. French grammar often revolves around standardised, rigid structures, while Occitan tends to retain more flexibility.
Verb Conjugation: French uses highly standardised verb conjugations. In contrast, Occitan exhibits variety across its dialects, retaining older Latin forms in some cases. For instance, Occitan keeps six distinct verb endings, mimicking Latin more than French does.
Gender Agreement: French adjectives must agree with gender and number. In Occitan, however, some dialects simplify gender distinctions, especially in plural forms.
Definite Articles: In French, articles like "le," "la," and "les" are fixed. Occitan introduces regional diversity with articles such as "lo," "la," and "los."
French's grammatical uniformity reflects centralization efforts, while Occitan's diverse grammar mirrors its survival across various regions.
Vocabulary Comparison
Though shared Latin roots give these languages overlap, vocabulary differences reflect centuries of cultural divergence. Here are a few examples:
Similar Words
"Amor" (Occitan) vs. "Amour" (French) – Both mean "love."
"Luna" (Occitan) vs. "Lune" (French) – Both mean "moon."
Unique Words
"Ostal" (Occitan) vs. "Maison" (French) – Both mean "house."
"Dròlle" (Occitan) vs. "Garçon" (French) – Both mean "boy."
Occitan tends to preserve older Latin-based words, while French incorporates influences from Frankish and other languages, giving both languages distinct personalities. If you're curious about the development of language families around the world, check out A Short History of Language.
Pronunciation and Phonetics
The phonetics of Occitan and French immediately set them apart:
Vowel Sounds: French features nasal vowels, like in "pain" (bread). Occitan avoids this, favoring purer vowel sounds similar to Spanish.
Consonants: French frequently drops final consonants, such as in "beau" (beautiful), while Occitan often pronounces them, as in "bèl."
Stress Patterns: French stress typically falls at the end of words, creating a melodic rhythm. Meanwhile, Occitan uses tonal variety, sounding closer to Catalan or Italian.
Together, these distinctions make Occitan sound brighter, less nasal, and arguably more "musical" than French. With this in mind, it's not surprising that Occitan troubadours were so popular in medieval Europe.
Cultural Significance
Occitan's Cultural Heritage
Occitan holds a profound connection to the identity of southern France. Once a dominant regional language during the Middle Ages, it served as the voice of the troubadours, poets who shaped Europe's literary traditions.
But Occitan isn't just a relic of the past. It’s the language of place names, traditional songs, and festivals in regions like Provence and Languedoc. For many, it acts as a bridge to their roots, capturing the essence of local history and traditions that French sometimes overlooks. Today, activists and educators work toward reviving its use, especially among younger generations, as an act of cultural pride.
French Language and Culture
French, on the other hand, is more than just a language—it’s a symbol of unity and national identity. When you think of France, its art, philosophy, cuisine, and fashion naturally come to mind. These cultural exports are often tied closely to the French language, which serves as their global ambassador.
From the Enlightenment thinkers like Voltaire to cinematic masterpieces of the 20th century, French is central to what makes France iconic. Beyond the arts, it also reflects the country’s policy of linguistic centralization, particularly since the French Revolution. In the 18th century, French became a tool to unify the nation, often at the expense of regional tongues like Occitan, Breton, or Alsatian.
Today, French’s cultural prominence extends globally, with over 300 million speakers across several continents. Its status as a diplomatic and literary giant reinforces its cultural significance in both France and the world.
Photo by Davide Rotondi
Both French and Occitan are deeply intertwined with France’s identity, but their paths reflect different historical and social dynamics. While Occitan preserves its regional charm, French represents a broader national and international influence, giving each a unique place in the cultural landscape. For further insights into Occitan's enduring impact, I'd recommend this wonderful article from Beebe Bahrami on Occitan's history and endurance.
Current Status and Usage
The State of Occitan Today
Occitan, the historic language of southern France, finds itself at a crossroads. While its cultural relevance remains undeniable, its number of speakers has drastically declined. Currently, only about 1 to 3 million people speak Occitan, with fluent speakers being even fewer. These individuals are often older, as younger generations generally adopt French as their primary language, further accelerating the decline of Occitan.
So, why is this happening? Centuries of suppression during French centralization policies have deeply impacted Occitan's vitality. It's classified as an endangered language by UNESCO. Despite this, there are notable efforts to revive it. Local activists, educators, and cultural groups promote the language through schools, festivals, and modern media. A popular initiative has been Café Oc, and an increasing number of schools in southern France are teaching in both French and Occitan.
French Language Dominance
French stands as a stark contrast to Occitan in usage and influence. It's a globally dominant language with over 300 million speakers worldwide. It’s one of the six official languages of the United Nations and is widely taught in schools across continents. Its influence spans Europe, Africa, North America, and beyond, cementing its role as a key international tongue.
The factors behind French's dominance are rooted in historical, political, and cultural dynamics. Policies like the 1539 Ordinance of Villers-Cotterêts elevated French as the language of law and administration ahead of Latin, sidelining regional dialects like Occitan in the process. Although Occitan continued to be widely spoken even during the nineteenth century, at the turn of the twentieth century the French state took increasingly strict measures to push French as the sole national language, resulting in a sharp decline in the number of speakers of regional languages. It is said that older generations of Occitan speakers can still recall this process, in which they were shamed for speaking Occitan at school.
While French thrives globally, regional tongues like Occitan remind us of the rich linguistic diversity often sidelined by centralization efforts. Understanding these dynamics enriches appreciation for both languages.
Learning Resources for Both Languages
When studying Occitan or French, having the right resources can make all the difference. Whether you're exploring the cultural depth of Occitan or diving into the global prominence of French, selecting tools that follow the fundamental principles of language learning is key.
Recommended Tools for Learning Occitan
If you're interested in learning Occitan, more information and resources can be found at Get to Know Occitan.
I’d also suggest doing an internet or YouTube search for Occitan, Alsatian, Corsican, Breton, Basque, Catalan, and even the more obscure regional languages of France, such as Bourguignon-Morvandiau or Poitevin-Saintongeais. As a starting point for Occitan, it’s worth taking a look at the Institut d’Estudis Occitans, Librariá Occitana, and La Biaça.
If you’re interested in learning Occitan, you might find it easier to start with French or Catalan. Most of the resources for learning Occitan are in French, and Catalan is the closest relative of Occitan. Whichever route you opt for, the How to Learn French Guide and the How to Learn Catalan Guide will make the whole process fast, affordable, fun, and convenient.
For example, I found Assimil's Occitan book (also available as a digital resource for learning Occitan) a great resource not only for learning the language but also for gaining a deeper understanding of the cultural history of the region. Understanding French was crucial in providing me with the opportunity to use this resource, as the Occitan dialogue from each lesson was translated into French on the opposite page, together with footnotes in French explaining key points about grammar and culture from each lesson.
Recommended Tools for Learning French
If you want to save yourself a lot of time through not having to spend hours looking for resources and through having a convenient, affordable, and enjoyable plan for learning French, then I'd recommend the How to Learn French Guide. It provides you with everything you need to learn French - focusing on free, online resources you can use wherever you are. If you're only after resources for learning French, then I'd suggest using the best resources for learning French.
Personal and Professional Goals in Language Learning
When choosing to learn a language, your goals will shape your experience. Whether you're connecting with cultural heritage or aiming for career success, these motivations make the journey rewarding and personal.
Connecting with Cultural Heritage
Learning Occitan can be a profound way to reconnect with your roots. Southern France's history is steeped in the Occitan language, which carries the traditions, songs, and stories of the region's past.
For those with family ties to areas like Provence or Languedoc, studying Occitan is more than an academic pursuit—it’s about preserving a legacy. Imagine understanding the original lyrics of troubadour poetry or participating in festivals where Occitan still plays a role. These connections bring a sense of belonging and enrich your cultural identity.
Family History: Understand your ancestors’ narratives through the language they spoke.
Cultural Celebrations: Participate in regional traditions and festivals.
Preservation: Help ensure the language survives for future generations.
If this resonates with you, you might find inspiration in Why Learn Occitan?.
Conclusion
No matter your personal or professional goals, language learning is a gateway to new possibilities. Whether it's reconnecting with the past or building a future, the journey is deeply rewarding.
