Patois

Patois is the French word for dialect or dialect. In practice, it is used in various meanings.

Original meaning

The word patois is probably patoiier or patoyer from Old French meaning " around waving their hands " means ( patte in German means " paw "). Refers may have been an awkward understanding with " hands and feet ".

Originally called patois in France local language varieties of French, for example, those derived from the Norman dialect of Normandy and the Channel Islands. For many years was the use of patois as uncultured and " peasant ". This also applied to the Channel Islands, where the dialect survived in the country 's longest and is understood today. Especially after the translation of the Bible into French by Calvin and after the introduction of compulsory education in the French language, the local language variants disappeared more and more. Radio and television did in the 20th century their own difficulties. Only in recent years, efforts have been made to revive the local dialects.

Pejorative meaning

In France, sometimes the minority languages ​​(such as Breton or Occitan ) are pejoratively referred to as patois. Similarly, in several Francophone African countries local languages ​​, also referred to in a derogatory manner, as patois.

Switzerland

In Switzerland patois called a frankoprovenzalische language that was formerly spoken throughout the French-speaking (except in the Jura). Today, the patois in Switzerland has been virtually supplanted entirely by the French and is spoken only by a small minority in the Valais as their mother tongue. More recently, efforts are underway to save the patois from extinction.