Editing French language (section)

=== Asia ===
==== Southeast Asia ====
{{See also|French language in Vietnam|French language in Laos|French language in Cambodia}}
French was the official language of the colony of [[French Indochina]], comprising modern-day [[Vietnam]], [[Laos]], and [[Cambodia]]. It continues to be an administrative language in Laos and Cambodia, although its influence has waned in recent decades.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Richardson |first=Michael |date=16 October 1993 |title=French Declines in Indochina, as English Booms |language=en |work=[[International Herald Tribune]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/10/16/style/IHT-french-declines-in-indochina-as-english-booms.html |url-status=live |access-date=2018-11-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181009172258/https://www.nytimes.com/1993/10/16/style/IHT-french-declines-in-indochina-as-english-booms.html |archive-date=9 October 2018}}</ref> In colonial Vietnam, the elites primarily spoke French, while many servants who worked in French households spoke a French pidgin known as "[[Tây Bồi Pidgin French|Tây Bồi]]" (now extinct). After French rule ended, [[South Vietnam]] continued to use French in administration, education, and trade.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chiman |first=Aly |date=1 February 2007 |title=The Role of English in Vietnam's Foreign Language Policy: A Brief History |url=https://www.worldwide.rs/en/role-english-vietnams-foreign-language-policy-brief-history/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225034415/https://www.worldwide.rs/en/role-english-vietnams-foreign-language-policy-brief-history/ |archive-date=25 February 2021 |access-date=26 February 2021 |website=worldwide.rs}}</ref> However, since the [[Fall of Saigon]] and the opening of a unified Vietnam's economy, French has gradually been effectively displaced as the first foreign language of choice by English in Vietnam. Nevertheless, it continues to be taught as the other main foreign language in the Vietnamese educational system and is regarded as a cultural language.<ref>Kirkpatrick, Andy and Anthony J. Liddicoat, ''The Routledge International Handbook of Language Education Policy in Asia.'', [[Routledge]], 2019, p. 192</ref>
All three countries are full members of La Francophonie (OIF).

==== India ====
{{See also|Indian French}}
French was the official language of [[French India]], consisting of the geographically separate enclaves referred to as [[Puducherry (union territory)|Puducherry]]. It continued to be an [[official languages of Puducherry|official language of the territory]] even after its cession to India in 1956 until 1965.<ref name="timesofindia.indiatimes.com">{{Cite news |date=14 September 2014 |title=English to continue as link language in Puducherry: Court |work=The Times of India |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/English-to-continue-as-link-language-in-Puducherry-Court/articleshow/42400463.cms |url-status=live |access-date=16 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211021143645/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/English-to-continue-as-link-language-in-Puducherry-Court/articleshow/42400463.cms |archive-date=21 October 2021}}</ref> A small number of older locals still retain knowledge of the language, although it has now given way to Tamil and English.<ref name="timesofindia.indiatimes.com" /><ref>[https://www.france24.com/en/20130318-pondicherry-the-French-outpost-in-India Pondicherry, the French outpost in India] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211016075001/https://www.france24.com/en/20130318-pondicherry-the-French-outpost-in-India |date=16 October 2021 }}, [[France 24]]</ref>

==== Lebanon ====
{{See also|French language in Lebanon}}
[[File:Bienvenue a Rechmaya.jpg|thumb|right|upright=0.7|Town sign in [[Modern Standard Arabic|Standard Arabic]] and French at the entrance of [[Rechmaya]] in Lebanon]]

A former French [[French Mandate for Syria and the Lebanon|mandate]], [[Lebanon]] designates [[Arabic]] as the sole official language, while a special law regulates cases when French can be publicly used. Article 11 of Lebanon's Constitution states that "Arabic is the official national language. A law determines the cases in which the French language is to be used".<ref name="article_11">{{Cite web |last=Axel Tschentscher, LL.M. |title=Article 11 of the Lebanese Constitution |url=http://www.servat.unibe.ch/icl/le00000_.html#A011_ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130116235845/http://www.servat.unibe.ch/icl/le00000_.html#A011_ |archive-date=16 January 2013 |access-date=17 January 2013 |publisher=Servat.unibe.ch}}</ref> The [[French language in Lebanon]] is a widespread second language among the [[Lebanese people]], and is taught in many schools along with Arabic and English. French is used on [[Lebanese pound]] banknotes, on road signs, on Lebanese [[Vehicle registration plates of Lebanon|license plates]], and on official buildings (alongside Arabic).

Today, French and English are secondary languages of [[Lebanon]], with about 40% of the population being [[Francophone]] and 40% Anglophone.{{sfn|OIF|2014|p=217}} The use of English is growing in the business and media environment. Out of about 900,000 students, about 500,000 are enrolled in Francophone schools, public or private, in which the teaching of mathematics and scientific subjects is provided in French.{{sfn|OIF|2014|p=218}} Actual usage of French varies depending on the region and social status. One-third of high school students educated in French go on to pursue higher education in English-speaking institutions. English is the language of business and communication, with French being an element of social distinction, chosen for its emotional value.{{sfn|OIF|2014|p=358}}