I hope I have convinced you that French is used throughout the world in many wealthy and worth visiting

countries!I would like to now tell you how

French has become the language of high diplomacy…

To understand how French has To understand how French has become the language of high become the language of high

diplomacy we must first diplomacy we must first take a look at historytake a look at history

In XVII – XVIII century, France was the biggest European In XVII – XVIII century, France was the biggest European country with a huge army and good life for upper classes.country with a huge army and good life for upper classes.

Thanks to the efforts of the French Academy, French was Thanks to the efforts of the French Academy, French was already a “defined language”. That means that what was already a “defined language”. That means that what was written then in French wouldn't change its meaning in written then in French wouldn't change its meaning in following years.following years.

Because of intellectual, cultural, and industrial Because of intellectual, cultural, and industrial achievements of France, the French language became achievements of France, the French language became the undisputed medium of culture and refinement. It the undisputed medium of culture and refinement. It came to be considered the door to everything that was came to be considered the door to everything that was sophisticated, modern, stylish…sophisticated, modern, stylish…

It was in this period that French It was in this period that French replaced Latin as the language of replaced Latin as the language of

world universal languageworld universal language In In 17631763 France, Spain, Great France, Spain, Great

Britain and Portugal signed Britain and Portugal signed the the Treaty of ParisTreaty of Paris that that ended the so called Indian ended the so called Indian war. Even though France lost war. Even though France lost the war the whole Treaty was the war the whole Treaty was negotiated and signed in negotiated and signed in French…French…

Since that time French Since that time French became the only and became the only and unique language of unique language of world’s high diplomacyworld’s high diplomacy

And remained it until 1919!!And remained it until 1919!!

Of course everything changed in XX Of course everything changed in XX century century

and French was replaced by Englishand French was replaced by English France went to war France went to war

against Germany 3 times against Germany 3 times in three generationsin three generations

Tried to deal with Tried to deal with aftermath of German aftermath of German occupation, the legacy of occupation, the legacy of Nazi collaboration and Nazi collaboration and its own participation in its own participation in HolocaustHolocaust

The county’s reputation The county’s reputation suffered during the suffered during the decolonization of decolonization of Vietnam and AlgeriaVietnam and Algeria

In the middle of all this In the middle of all this French ceased to be French ceased to be the unique language of the unique language of high diplomacy high diplomacy

The Treaty of The Treaty of VersailleVersaille

that ended World War that ended World War I was signed in 1919 in I was signed in 1919 in both French and both French and English. English.

But even though English is today the But even though English is today the world’s “lingua franca”, French kept world’s “lingua franca”, French kept

its its place in the high diplomacy!place in the high diplomacy!

There are several reasons why French remains important in the There are several reasons why French remains important in the diplomatic world:diplomatic world:

1.1. Many international organizations such as International Many international organizations such as International Telegraphic Union, Universal Postal Union, International Bureau Telegraphic Union, Universal Postal Union, International Bureau of Weights and Measures…) were created in the early XIX of Weights and Measures…) were created in the early XIX century and have they headquarters in French speaking cities century and have they headquarters in French speaking cities like Geneva;like Geneva;

2.2. In the opinion of many countries establishing English as the only In the opinion of many countries establishing English as the only working language of UN gave the USA too much of an edge…working language of UN gave the USA too much of an edge…

3.3. French favors precise definitions it is the language of clarity and French favors precise definitions it is the language of clarity and precision: it uses a lot more determiners, adverbs, conjunctions precision: it uses a lot more determiners, adverbs, conjunctions and the like to link parts of sentences together and clarify their and the like to link parts of sentences together and clarify their relationships. Conversely, English is more likely to create relationships. Conversely, English is more likely to create ambiguity and its concision can be seen as bluntness!ambiguity and its concision can be seen as bluntness!

Just have a look on the list of Just have a look on the list of international organizations and NGOs international organizations and NGOs

that use that use French as their working languageFrench as their working languageFrench is the official working language of French is the official working language of

• United NationsUnited Nations

• European Union (The European Court of Justice)European Union (The European Court of Justice)

• NATONATO

• Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)(OECD)

• International Olympic CommitteeInternational Olympic Committee

• 31-member Council of Europe31-member Council of Europe

• Doctors without BordersDoctors without Borders

• International Red CrossInternational Red Cross

• And many othersAnd many others

TThe he recent listing of international jobs recent listing of international jobs (7/3/07) distributed by the US State (7/3/07) distributed by the US State

Department proves that if you were ever Department proves that if you were ever interested in working for international interested in working for international

organizations you should think of studying organizations you should think of studying French!French!

BECAUSE:BECAUSE:

• 125125 of the jobs listed by the State of the jobs listed by the State Department required or preferred French!Department required or preferred French!

• Only 31 required Spanish, Only 31 required Spanish,

• 25 a UN language (Arabic, Chinese, English, 25 a UN language (Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, and Spanish), French, Russian, and Spanish),

• 10 Portuguese, 7 Arabic, 4 Russian, and 2 10 Portuguese, 7 Arabic, 4 Russian, and 2 GermanGerman. .

But French can be useful not only But French can be useful not only in the diplomacy but also in in the diplomacy but also in

business!!!business!!!

Why?Why?

Because despite what people think Because despite what people think France has a strong economy and France has a strong economy and

strong commercial ties with U.S.!!!strong commercial ties with U.S.!!!

France has the sixth largest economy France has the sixth largest economy in the world after the U.S., Japan, in the world after the U.S., Japan, Germany, China and England (GDP Germany, China and England (GDP reached approximately €1,800 billion reached approximately €1,800 billion in 2006)in 2006)

France is the France is the world's third military world's third military powerpower after the US and Russia after the US and Russia

France is overall, France is overall, the fourth largest the fourth largest exportingexporting nation of the world nation of the world!!!!!!

France is the France is the second largest exportersecond largest exporter of of agricultural products in the world after the agricultural products in the world after the U.SU.S

France is the France is the world's leaderworld's leader in the in the production of luxury goodsproduction of luxury goods

France is the France is the fourth largest producerfourth largest producer of of

automobilesautomobiles in the world (Renault, Peugeot, in the world (Renault, Peugeot, Citroën) and the third largest exporter Citroën) and the third largest exporter

The French are the The French are the world's thirdworld's third manufacturers of manufacturers of electronics equipmentelectronics equipment

European European leader in aerospaceleader in aerospace (Aérospatiale, Arianespace, Airbus...)(Aérospatiale, Arianespace, Airbus...)

France is France is fourth in scientific research fourth in scientific research amongamong countries of the Organization for countries of the Organization for Economic Development and Cooperation Economic Development and Cooperation (after Japan, Germany, and the US)(after Japan, Germany, and the US)

These major French groups are These major French groups are famous around the globe:famous around the globe:

• L’OréalL’Oréal, the world’s leading cosmetics group; , the world’s leading cosmetics group; • Saint-GobainSaint-Gobain, the world’s leading producer , the world’s leading producer

of building materials; of building materials; • DanoneDanone, the world’s leading producer of , the world’s leading producer of

fresh dairy products; fresh dairy products; • LVMHLVMH, number one in the luxury goods , number one in the luxury goods

market. market. • Other examples include Other examples include Michelin, Air Michelin, Air

Liquide, Carrefour, Total and Dassault Liquide, Carrefour, Total and Dassault Aviation.Aviation.

But not only has France strong But not only has France strong economy but also strong economy but also strong

commercial ties with USA…commercial ties with USA…

France is nearly tied with Japan, Germany France is nearly tied with Japan, Germany and the Netherlands as and the Netherlands as the second the second largest foreign investor in the U.Slargest foreign investor in the U.S

There are 2500There are 2500 subsidiaires of french subsidiaires of french companies in USA!companies in USA!

French companies employ French companies employ approximately 580,000 Americans!approximately 580,000 Americans!

Just look at this map that Just look at this map that presents French investments presents French investments

in the Cincinnati region!in the Cincinnati region!

On the other hand U.S. On the other hand U.S. companies invest in France!companies invest in France!

U.S. has been the U.S. has been the largest largest (non EU (non EU member)member) direct investor direct investor in France in France

US companies employ nearly US companies employ nearly 600,000 600,000 people in Francepeople in France

France - USA transactions amount to $1 France - USA transactions amount to $1 billion every day!billion every day!

But what is important for you as a student But what is important for you as a student is the fact that the knowledge of French is the fact that the knowledge of French

gives you the opportunity to participate in gives you the opportunity to participate in many unique career development many unique career development

programs!!!programs!!!

If you know French you can gain precious If you know French you can gain precious experience while working for well known experience while working for well known companies and maybe visiting France!!companies and maybe visiting France!!

Continue on to theContinue on to the“Internship and Job Opportunities” “Internship and Job Opportunities” link on the “Careers” web page for link on the “Careers” web page for

further information.further information.