Why does Congo speak French and not Dutch?
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Why does Congo speak French and not Dutch?
Congo became a colony of Belgium from 1908 till 1960. Before that is was a personal colony king Leopold II. People had to speak and learn French because it was the only language that was spoken in Belgium.
Why is French spoken in the Congo?
French has been maintained as the official language since the time of independence because it is widely spoken in the capital of the country-Kinshasa, it belongs to none of the indigenous ethnic groups and eases communication between them as well as with the rest of the Francophonie, which includes many African …
How many French speakers are in France?
274 million French speakers
French language
| French | |
|---|---|
| français | |
| Pronunciation | [fʁɑ̃sɛ] |
| Region | France, now worldwide (distribution maps below) |
| Native speakers | 76.8 million worldwide An estimated 274 million French speakers (L1 plus L2; 2014) |
How many French speakers are in Africa?
African French (French: français africain) is the generic name of the varieties of the French language spoken by an estimated 141 million people in Africa in 2018, spread across 34 countries and territories.
When did Democratic Republic of Congo start speaking French?
French became a popular language in the Democratic Republic of Congo when it was colonized by Belgium in 1885.
How many languages are spoken in the Democratic Republic of Congo?
The Democratic Republic of Congo is one of the most linguistically diverse countries in the world, with over 200 languages spoken in the country. While French is the official language and widely used in education and government, there are four national languages: Kikongo (Kituba), Lingala, Swahili, and Tshiluba.
How many languages are there in the Congo?
Does South Africa speak Spanish?
South Africa’s Constitution recognises 11 official languages: Sepedi (also known as Sesotho sa Leboa), Sesotho, Setswana, siSwati, Tshivenda, Xitsonga, Afrikaans, English, isiNdebele, isiXhosa and isiZulu. For centuries South Africa’s official languages were European – Dutch, English, Afrikaans.
Does Burkina speak French?
Citizens of Burkina Faso, regardless of their ethnic origin, are collectively known as Burkinabé. French is the official language, although it is not widely spoken. Moore, the language of the Mossi, is spoken by a great majority of the population, and Dyula is widely used in commerce.
How many French speakers are in DRC?
33 million people
The French language spoken in the DRC exhibits many similarities with Belgian French. The language is widely spoken by the country’s educated and elite class. As of 2014, nearly 47\% of the population of the DRC, or about 33 million people, can speak, read and write in French.