French: An Accessable Language

by Jeremy
(New York)

In my years in school and in university, I have taken numerous French courses. While never a French major, studying the language for several years has given me an effective reading comprehension for the language.

As you may or may not know, the English language was heavily influenced, if not transformed, by French in the middle ages, for several centuries after the fall of Hastings (1066). This influence has led to a large number of cognates between the two languages, making reading easier. The order of words is also in general the same as English.

However, pronunciation of French can be difficult to master, as is any foreign language. French is difficult in the sense that pronunciation rules are more complex and lack any apparent rhyme or reason.

Overall, French is valuable language to learn, with native speakers in every corner of the world. It is perhaps, alongside Spanish, the easiest foreign language for English speakers to learn.