French, Belgian
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Belgian French (French: français de Belgique) is the variety of French spoken mainly in the French Community of Belgium, alongside related minority regional languages such as Walloon, Picard, Champenois and Lorrain (Gaumais).
Belgian French and the French of northern France are almost identical, but there are a few distinct phonological and lexical differences. It is worth noting that Belgian French is made up of different varieties of French, each with its own characteristics, just like the French spoken in France is made up of different varieties of French too. The accent and words used by people from Brussels, for instance, can be slightly different than the accent and words used by other Belgians from other French-speaking regions in Belgium. The differences between Parisian French or the French from Tours (which is regarded as the purest form of French or standard French) and Belgian French depends on the region Belgian speakers come from and their levels of education. The more educated, the younger, and the more urban the speaker, the higher the chances that the differences will be minimal to being virtually non-existent. In terms of writing, accent, and lexicon, the differences might be akin to the differences that exist between Canadians or between Australians, which might be non-existent (if education levels and ages are similar) to more pronounced as education levels and ages differ. Belgian French-speakers, who are well educated, are very much aware of these minor differences and will "standardize" their French pronunciation and lexicon when speaking to non-Belgian speakers or other Belgian speakers who are not from their region. Grammatical differences between standard French and Belgian French do not exist since standard rules are taught in schools, unless the speaker forgets to apply those rules. In fact, Grévisse, a Belgian, is the most renowned French grammarian of all. He is known around the French community for his 1600 pages reference book on French grammar, le bon usage, which received an award from the Académie française. Belgian French is a term that refers to the different varieties of French spoken in Belgium, which vary in terms of pronunciation and lexicon, depending on the region and the speaker's characteristics, which might be such that the French spoken and words used might be indistinguishable to being a bit different from other types of French spoken in France, from Paris, Tours, and many other regions of France. Generally speaking, differences are far and few between, especially with younger and well-educated speakers.
French was historically widely spoken in the region of Flanders, especially by its Francophone upper classes, but its use decreased, primarily because of the efforts of the Flemish Movement, as well as by the rise of English as a popular alternative. The role of French in Flemish society remains a controversial topic, especially concerning the municipalities with language facilities. French is nonetheless a commonly known second language in Flanders today. (Wikipedia)