French and Spanish in North Africa
In North Africa there are countries where French or Spanish are spoken, but they are neither the main nor the official languages:
- Algeria, Maghreb French (this is the only North African nation where French is spoken by majority).
- Morocco, Spanish is often spoken as a second language in the former Spanish protectorate, but the French is widely the national second language once the French protectorate was much larger. Haketia (or Western Judaeo-Spanish) is spoken by a few hundreds of Moroccan Jews and is endangered. Another variant, the Spanish language that was spoken by moriscos, is extinct.
- Tunisia, Maghreb French.
- Western Sahara, Spanish language in Western Sahara.
Read more about this topic: Romance-speaking Africa
Famous quotes containing the words french and, french, spanish, north and/or africa:
“... the English are very fond of being entertained, and ... they regard the French and the American people as destined by Heaven to amuse them.”
—M. E. W. Sherwood (1826–1903)
“Such is the nature and make-up of the French that they are only good at the start. Then they are worse than devils, but, given time, they’re less than women.”
—François Rabelais (1494–1553)
“The French courage proceeds from vanity—the German from phlegm—the Turkish from fanaticism & opium—the Spanish from pride—the English from coolness—the Dutch from obstinacy—the Russian from insensibility—but the Italian from anger.”
—George Gordon Noel Byron (1788–1824)
“The Anglo-Saxon hive have extirpated Paganism from the greater part of the North American continent; but with it they have likewise extirpated the greater portion of the Red race. Civilization is gradually sweeping from the earth the lingering vestiges of Paganism, and at the same time the shrinking forms of its unhappy worshippers.”
—Herman Melville (1819–1891)
“I who have cursed
The drunken officer of British rule, how choose
Between this Africa and the English tongue I love?
Betray them both, or give back what they give?
How can I face such slaughter and be cool?
How can I turn from Africa and live?”
—Derek Walcott (b. 1930)