2006-11-01 11:36:40 · 11 answers · asked by a s 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Languages
i am not asking what languages i know that i am asking why french is one of the official languages
2006-11-01 11:47:38 · update #1
For the same reason that it's also a German, Italian, and Romansh speaking country. That's what the people speak. That's what they have spoken for centuries.
Switzerland is a country that grew out of different alpine peoples banding together for their common good and common defense. Due to those original differences, the modern multilingual state exists.
2006-11-01 12:58:52 · answer #1 · answered by mahgri 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Swiss-German (although "high-german" is written), French, Italian, and Rumantsch.
Switzerland is in the heart of Europe bordering Germany, Austria and Liechtenstein (German speaking countries), France (French), and Italy (Italien)... and Rumantsch is spoke in 3 valleys in the south east of the country.
English is not an official language. And, of course, Dutch isn't spoke in Switzerland....
2006-11-02 01:46:01 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
almost all the rustic is GERMAN conversing, the place countless Swiss German dialects are the language used, on a each and every day foundation . In Graubuenden Romansch ( a village Latin ) is likewise spoken. Italian is the language of areas of that canton too, besides as interior the Canton of Ticino..........l. a. Suisse Romande/French conversing Switzerland is to the west with the main suitable cities of Geneva and Lausanne. It contributes to the FRANCOPHONE subculture, and not the national identity of alternative French conversing international places as such.......that's no longer France, to any extent further than the francophone area of Belgium is or the Province of Quebec.......
2016-10-03 04:39:45 · answer #3 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
All those countries around there (France, Germany, Austria, Luxembourg, Switzerland) changed hands quite a bit pretty much until after World War II. Not all of Switzerland is French-speaking. But the territory was taken over, lost, won, redistributed...I guess they just kept speaking French even though some German-speaking people moved in next to them.
2006-11-01 11:40:21 · answer #4 · answered by SlowClap 6 · 0⤊ 3⤋
There are four official languages: German, French, Italian and Romansh.
2006-11-01 11:46:34 · answer #5 · answered by novangelis 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If I'm not mistaken, they also speak German and Italian. I imagine they speak those languages because their country is bordered by France, Germany, and Italy. I think they also speak English, but I could be wrong.
2006-11-01 11:40:41 · answer #6 · answered by Purdey EP 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Location, location, location.
Besides, most European countries know some of the neighbor's languages
2006-11-01 11:38:39 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
other languages are spoken too. Europe's history is a dark and turbulent one and land has changed governments many times in some places.
2006-11-01 11:41:24 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
doesn't switzerland have four official languages? french, german, italian, and... something else...?
2006-11-01 11:39:00 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Maybe because it borders with France
2006-11-01 17:44:02 · answer #10 · answered by John 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋