#6 The Standardization of French｜French Language Column

The language that you learn today as “French” did not exist from the beginning as a unified language used throughout the entire country.

In fact, modern Standard French was formed through a long historical process that took place over many centuries.

In contemporary France, Standard French based largely on the language of Paris is widely used in education, administration, the media, and publishing. However, in medieval France, there was no single unified language in the modern sense. Different languages and dialects were spoken from region to region, and the way people spoke varied greatly.

So how did French become standardized? In this article, I will look at how French was standardized and gradually shaped into the form we know today.

1. Medieval France Had No Unified Language

Before considering the standardization of French, it is first necessary to understand the linguistic situation of medieval France.

In the region that corresponds to present-day France, a wide variety of languages were spoken during the Middle Ages. The two major groups were:

• The langues d’oïl in the north
• The langues d’oc in the south

Both the langues d’oïl and the langues d’oc developed from Latin as Romance languages, but they differed in vocabulary, pronunciation, and grammar. In addition, many dialects existed within each region.

In other words, in medieval France, the same French was not understood everywhere in the country as it is today.

Latin also continued to play an important role in official documents and scholarly contexts. For a long time, regional languages were used in everyday speech, while Latin was used in official writing.

At this stage, it is more accurate to think not of “French” as a single language, but of a group of languages spoken across the French region.

2. The Language Around Paris Became the Basis of the Standard Language

Among the many regional languages, the language spoken around Paris gradually became the basis of the standard language. The main reason was that Paris was the political center.

By the late Middle Ages, the French monarchy was gradually strengthening its power. As a result, the political and economic influence of Paris, the center of royal authority, also increased.

A language used at the center of political power gradually gains prestige.

As the language of the Paris region came to be used in important areas such as administrative documents, the courts, education, and commerce, it began to be regarded as a more standard form of language. Of course, this change did not happen overnight. It progressed gradually over many generations.

Language standardization is not simply a linguistic issue. It is deeply connected to political power and social structures. The standardization of French is a typical example of this process.

3. The Ordinance of Villers-Cotterêts

One particularly important event in the standardization of French was the Ordinance of Villers-Cotterêts in 1539.

This ordinance was issued by King Francis I. Among its provisions, the rules concerning official documents were especially significant.

The ordinance required administrative and judicial documents to be written not in Latin, but in French, which was more widely understood.

This was a major turning point. Until then, Latin had long been used in official documents because it held great authority as the language of scholarship and law.

However, through this ordinance, French was officially positioned as a language of state administration.

From this point onward, French came to establish itself not merely as an everyday language, but as a language that supported the functioning of the state.

4. The Spread of Printing Accelerated Standardization

Another major factor that promoted standardization was printing technology.

From the fifteenth century onward, printing spread rapidly throughout Europe. Once books could be reproduced in large quantities, questions such as “Which spelling should be used?” and “Which expression is standard?” naturally became more important.

If spelling varied greatly from book to book, readers would become confused. For this reason, publishers and intellectuals increasingly became aware of the need to unify spelling and grammar to some extent.

Through this process, French orthography gradually became more fixed. However, even at this stage, the gap between spelling and pronunciation was already growing.

In other words, even as spelling became standardized, spoken language continued to change. This history is connected to one of the distinctive features of modern French: its spelling is complex, but its norms are strong.

5. The Establishment of the Académie Française

When discussing the standardization of French, the Académie Française cannot be overlooked.

This institution was established in 1635 under the leadership of Cardinal Richelieu, whose full name was Armand Jean du Plessis, Cardinal Richelieu.

Its purpose was to organize, refine, and regulate the French language. More specifically, its roles included:

• organizing vocabulary
• defining correct usage
• compiling dictionaries
• developing grammar and expression

The Académie Française remains a symbolic institution for the French language today.

In many countries, language tends to be left to natural change. In France, however, there is a strong tendency to view language as a cultural asset that should be protected. This is one of the factors that makes French such a distinctive language.

6. The Education System and the Spread of Standard French

From the nineteenth century onward, the spread of school education greatly supported the expansion of Standard French.

In modern France in particular, a nationwide system of compulsory education was developed, and schools became an important tool of national integration. Through education, it became a priority for children across the country to acquire a shared language.

Standard French was taught in schools. As a result, even children who spoke different languages or dialects at home or in their local communities began to learn Standard French at school.

Through this policy, Standard French became established not merely as “the language of Paris,” but as a common national language.

Furthermore, the development of nationwide media such as books, newspapers, radio, and television made Standard French even more central to society.

However, this does not mean that regional languages disappeared completely. Even today, France has regional languages such as:

• Breton
• Occitan
• Corsican
• Alsatian

These languages still have cultural and historical value, and efforts are being made to preserve them.

In this way, the spread of Standard French contributed greatly to national unity in France. At the same time, it also had the effect of weakening regional languages.

7. Modern French and Standardization

Even today, the standardization of French continues.

Language naturally changes together with society. When new technologies, cultures, and values emerge, new vocabulary is also needed.

In recent years in particular, words of English origin have increased rapidly.

• email
• streaming
• smartphone
• software

At the same time, French alternatives are often proposed for such loanwords.

• email → courriel
• software → logiciel
• hashtag → mot-dièse

Institutions such as the Académie Française and government bodies are also involved in these efforts. Behind this movement is the idea that French should be protected as a cultural heritage.

In France, language is often regarded not merely as a tool for communication, but as an important element that supports national culture and identity. For this reason, some people are cautious about the growing influence of English.

On the other hand, in actual spoken French, expressions of English origin are widely used. This tendency is especially noticeable among younger generations and in internet culture. In everyday conversation and on social media, it is not unusual for English-derived words to be used as they are.

In other words, two forces exist at the same time in modern French:

• the force that tries to maintain linguistic norms
• the force that allows the language to change naturally

These two forces are not necessarily in conflict. Rather, the tension between them can be seen as one of the defining features of modern French.

8. Summary

The standardization of French developed over a long historical period.

In medieval France, many regional languages and dialects existed. Later, standardization progressed through several major factors:

As a result, modern Standard French was formed.

French is a language that changes with the times, but it is also a language that has been consciously organized and regulated.

By learning the history of how French was formed, I believe you can gain a deeper understanding of the French language itself.