Free French Pronunciation: A Comprehensive Guide310

Introduction

Free French (French: Français libre), also known as Fighting French (France libre), was the government-in-exile of France during World War II. It was led by General Charles de Gaulle and fought against the Axis powers alongside the Allies. Free French forces played a significant role in the liberation of France and the defeat of Nazi Germany.

The pronunciation of Free French is generally similar to that of standard French, but there are some notable differences. These differences are due to the fact that Free French was spoken by soldiers and civilians from all over France, including those from regions with distinct accents. In addition, Free French was often spoken in a hurried and informal manner, which also affected its pronunciation.

Vowels

The vowels of Free French are generally pronounced as in standard French, but there are a few key differences.
A is pronounced as in the English word "father".
E is pronounced as in the English word "bed".
I is pronounced as in the English word "machine".
O is pronounced as in the English word "boat".
U is pronounced as in the English word "food".

Consonants

The consonants of Free French are generally pronounced as in standard French, but there are a few key differences.
C is pronounced as in the English word "cat" before the vowels a, o, and u, and as in the English word "city" before the vowels e and i.
G is pronounced as in the English word "go" before the vowels a, o, and u, and as in the English word "gem" before the vowels e and i.
J is pronounced as in the English word "job".
R is pronounced as in the English word "red".
S is pronounced as in the English word "sin".
T is pronounced as in the English word "top".
V is pronounced as in the English word "van".
Z is pronounced as in the English word "zoo".

Diphthongs

Diphthongs are combinations of two vowels that are pronounced as a single syllable. The most common diphthongs in Free French are:
ai is pronounced as in the English word "eye".
au is pronounced as in the English word "how".
ei is pronounced as in the English word "say".
eu is pronounced as in the English word "few".
oi is pronounced as in the English word "boy".
ui is pronounced as in the English word "we".

Stress

Stress in Free French is generally placed on the last syllable of a word. However, there are some exceptions to this rule, such as words that end in a consonant or a diphthong. In these cases, the stress is placed on the second-to-last syllable.

Intonation

Intonation in Free French is generally similar to that of standard French. However, there are a few key differences. For example, Free French speakers tend to use a more emphatic intonation when speaking, and they often raise their voices at the end of a sentence.

Conclusion

Free French pronunciation is generally similar to that of standard French, but there are some notable differences. These differences are due to the fact that Free French was spoken by soldiers and civilians from all over France, including those from regions with distinct accents. In addition, Free French was often spoken in a hurried and informal manner, which also affected its pronunciation.

2024-12-28

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