A special Dictionary of French speakers is born
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A language lives through its words and words exist through its speakers. This assertion could not be less representative of the French language, as the latter is home to a great linguistic diversity entailed by the various communities that speak, recreate and perpetuate it throughout the world. In order to highlight this richness, the French Ministry of Culture, in collaboration with several French and Francophone organizations, has implemented a project that culminated in the creation of the Dictionary of French Speakers (Dictionnaire des francophones – DDF).
French as it is used around the world.
The open-access Dictionnaire des francophones, which was officially launched last March 16th, counts 500,000 words and expressions from 52 different countries. You will therefore find terms from all the French-speaking areas of the world: France, Quebec, Senegal, Louisiana, Côte d’Ivoire, etc.
Furthermore, unlike traditional dictionaries, which generally prescribe the norms of the ‘correct French’, the DDF presents and describes terms according to their register and usage in different regions, in a way that you can identify the most suitable formulation in various communication situations.
For French speakers, by French speakers.
Moreover, the repertoire of this dictionary is expected to grow fast because French speakers and lovers of the French language are offered a space on the website where they can register and submit words and expressions which are not yet listed. These would first be investigated and then, depending on their relevance, they would be validated and published for consultation on the platform.
Basically, we have just witnessed the birth of the first-ever created collaborative dictionary, prepared for French speakers from all the regions of the world, by French speakers from all the regions of the world! Isn’t that wonderful?
Click here to read this article in French.
