Celtic Gaul
Top 10 French Lessons: Truly a Romance Language!
It is widely known that France has a beautiful culture and language, but did you know the historical reason why French is a ‘Romance Language’ is a result of wars and invasion? Put down those flashcards and French lessons and take a moment to learn the background of the French language with this article!
French language primarily descends from Latin, the language of the ancient Romans, and thus belongs to the ‘Romance’ Language Group.
The Romans were a strong empire that once invaded the actual French territory, which was known as La Gaule; where numerous tribes speaking le Gaulois (‘Gaulish’) composed of Celtic dialects inhabited La Gaule. Some traces of Gaulish influence are still present in the French spoken today; for example, these traces include the Gauls’ ancient and unique way of counting people by twenty. But hey, when you invade a country and forget to give them proper French lessons for speaking French the way you want them to, can you really blame them?
(In modern French, we still have quatre-vingt {’80′}, but there were also six-vingt {’120′} and quinze-vingt {’300′}.)
Once the Romans conquered the Gauls in the second and first century BC, vulgar Latin (which the common people spoke) rapidly dominated, as it was similar to Gaulish, and was deemed fashionable and good for business.
However, the Gauls were invaded yet again, this time by the Franks, a group of Germanic tribes. Later on though, the Franks were also Romanized and accepted the Roman Empire.
As the Franks melted into the Romano-Gallic population, a new multicultural population was formed: Les Francs.
At the beginning, French language was called le Francilien. It was born in Paris and spread all over Europe through poems and literature telling the adventures and loves of heroes.
These stories were known as ‘Romances’ after the French language, which became in modern French the word ‘roman’ meaning ‘novel’ and in English the word ‘romantic.’
Because French has been spoken for more than two thousand years, has spread across its border, and today it is spoken all over the world-mainly in France, Belgium, Switzerland, Canada, and Monaco. Who knew that invasion and politics would end up creating one of the most popular and loved languages in modern times!
Ok, we’re done with history for now. Try to take more time away from those boring grammar and vocabulary French lessons and learn about the culture, history and geography so you’ll actually have something to talk about!
A Celtic Warrior Tribute: Art & Artifact
|
|
Barbarian tribesmen of the Roman Empire Photo Mugs European tribesmen, known as barbarians to the Romans. Antique hand-colored print…. |
|
|
Cernunnos Photo Mugs CERNUNNOS horned deity of fertility and abdundance, honoured by the Gauls and other Celtic peoples …. |
|
|
Druid carrying mistletoe Photo Mugs Druid carrying mistletoe and a sickle. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration…. |
|
|
Photo Jigsaw Puzzle of Druid carrying mistletoe from North Wind Picture Archives $24.99 Photo Puzzle, Druid carrying mistletoe. Druid carrying mistletoe and a sickle. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration. Chosen by North Wind Picture Archives. 10×14 Photo Puzzle with 252 pieces. Packed in black cardboard box of dimensions 5 5/8 x 7 5/8 x 1 1/5. Puzzle image 5×7 affixed to box top. Puzzle pieces printed on RA4 paper at 300 dpi. This item is shipped from our American lab… |
|
|
Photo Jigsaw Puzzle of Cernunnos from Mary Evans $29.99 Photo Puzzle, CERNUNNOS. CERNUNNOS horned deity of fertility and abdundance, honoured by the Gauls and other Celtic peoples . Chosen by Mary Evans. 10×14 Photo Puzzle with 252 pieces. Packed in black cardboard box of dimensions 5 5/8 x 7 5/8 x 1 1/5. Puzzle image 5×7 affixed to box top. Puzzle pieces printed on RA4 paper at 300 dpi. This item is shipped from our American lab…. |
|
|
Photo Jigsaw Puzzle of Ganc2A-00261 from North Wind Picture Archives $24.99 Photo Puzzle, GANC2A-00261. Druid human sacrifice at Stonehenge stopped by Roman soldiers. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th century illustration. Chosen by North Wind Picture Archives. 10×14 Photo Puzzle with 252 pieces. Packed in black cardboard box of dimensions 5 5/8 x 7 5/8 x 1 1/5. Puzzle image 5×7 affixed to box top. Puzzle pieces printed on RA4 paper at 300 dpi. This item is shipped from our … |
|
|
Asterix in Britain $6.16 The Romans have invaded Britain, but one village still holds out. Asterix and Obelix come to help, with a barrel of magic potion in hand. But to deliver the precious brew, the Gaulish heroes must face fog, rain, bad food, warm beer, and the Roman, too…. |
|
|
The Celtic Sack of Rome (The Welsh Chronicles) The Celtic sack of Rome, 387 BC, according to the MS LXI. Historical fiction based on ancient manuscript translated by W.R, Cooper. Follow Belyn and Branyn, now reunited as brothers, when in a new venture they turn their attention to the plunder of Gaul and the sacking of Rome. Book six of the Welsh Chronicles…. |
|
|
The Philosopher and the Druids $17.95 Early in the first century B.C. a Greek philosopher named Posidonius began an ambitious and dangerous journey into the little-known lands of the Celts. A man of great intellectual curiosity and considerable daring, Posidonius traveled from his home on the island of Rhodes to Rome, the capital of the expanding empire that had begun to dominate the Mediterranean. From there Posidonius planned to inv… |
|
|
Nemesis of the Roman Empire $8.61 Product InformationWelcome to the Nemesis of the Roman Empire website sequel to theaward-winning Celtic Kings: Rage of War Real-Time Strategy game. Nemesisof the Roman Empire picks up where the award-winning Celtic Kings: Rage of Warleft off. In the height of its glory Carthage was the greatest power in the ancient world.With trade routes throughout the entire Mediterranean there … |