Is French still relevant as an international language?

Answer 1

still yes

Answer 2

The short answer is "Yes". The longer answer is, well, longer,

First and foremost, French is the second official language of the UN, English being the first. So right then and there you've got a significant reason to preserve knowledge of French.

Still, that's a fairly circular reason: French is relevant because people say it is. More than that, France at one time possessed a significant colonial empire, with the result of French becoming the "lingua franca", as it were, for a large number of people in both Africa and Asia. France controlled the bulk of northwestern Africa, especially Algeria, Cote de Ivoire, etc. France also controlled Vietnam and other parts of southeast Asia. As a result, French became the language of educated internationalism in those countries, representing hundreds of millions of people.

French is also relevant in international scientific circles, but perhaps not quite so much as either English or German. In other areas, French remains a real player in the humanities.

Answer 3

In many African countries it's used as a trade language, as well as English of course.

Answer 4

France is trying through the concept of "francophonie" to keep French alive as a major language but the effort is quite futile

Answer 5

I have always found it so. I can't imagine life without it!

Answer 6

yes, of course