Why does mauritius speak french

People use many languages and dialects to communicate among themselves and the multi-ethnic characteristics of Mauritius make it a multi-lingual country. Most Mauritians are at least bilingual, if not trilingual. Both French and English, which have long enjoyed greater social status, are favored in educational and professional settings.

English is generally accepted as the official language of Mauritius as it is the language of government administration, the courts and business sector. Second, Britain regarded the island as too small and insignificant for settlement, so very few English speakers ever settled there. Hotel manager Pierrot Barbe described himself as a true Mauritian. A polyglot like most of his fellow countrymen, he prefers to write in English and speak in French.

But in informal settings, at home and with friends, most people speak Mauritian Creole. Born during French rule among the majority slave population, the lingua franca remains an integral part of the islanders' heritage and identity.

It's mainly French-based, said Barbe, although the meanings of some words have shifted. It contains some English words and borrows from African and Southeast Asian languages, too.

In during French rule, a law was passed that required all slaves brought to Mauritius be baptized Catholic. As a result, churches are ubiquitous. Ki ou non? Looking for Pe rod Call Appel. Mauritius Packages Compare quotes from upto 3 travel agents for free. View Details. View All Packages For Mauritius. Comments on this post. Black River Gorges National Park. Seven Coloured Earth of Chamarel. Port Louis. Ile Aux Cerfs. La Cuvette Beach. We value your privacy. Your details are safe with us.

S'il vous plait see-voo-play. Merci mair-see. Au revior oh-reu-vwar. I don't understand. Je ne comprehends pas zhue neu kompron par. Nonetheless, no other language spoken on the island presents itself as a viable alternative. The historical overview and the discussion of the present situation are complemented by an analysis of the language tables taken from the population censuses of to and some data from an inquiry made by the author in the mid-seventies.

To complete the study, the English influence on French and Creole is shown, and three specimens of Mauritian English as spoken by young people are given and commented on. Balasubramanian, Chandrika