New Caledonian French

[ibetyouvotenexttimehippy]

So obviously the best way to learn a language would be to go to a French speaking country once you know the basics.

Being in Australia both France and Canada would be a very expensive trip. There is however the territory of New Caledonia a not too far off the Queensland coast and this would only cost me a few grand.

I know the chances of finding someone who has been aren't very high here but thought I would ask anyway.

How does New Caledonian French compare to the others? It has a large native population and would hate to learn some bastardisation of the language thinking I am doing very good.

I could just imagine someone going to the northern territory and coming out speaking like an aboriginal, thinking they know good English.

[Major General Franklin Kirby]

yeah id be skeptical in learning French from a bunch of boongas too. Why do you want to learn french? I think you'd be better off saving a bit and trying to get some work in Canada or France.

[water bottle]

I've never met anyone from New Caledonia (who has?), but I know it wouldn't be standard French. There would probably be a lot of native words thrown around and a bit of 'creolization'. If you really want to learn good French, it'd probably be worth it to just go to France or Quebec (though if you choose the latter, prepare to have European French speakers lulz at you).

Regardless, New Caledonia might make for a neat trip :).

[Vox Ducis]

I know a few people who have been there and a (white) girl born in New Caledonia who was with me at the University. You can speak to Native Caledonians and expatriate French as if you were in France. The same French is spoken in Paris and Nouméa. The only problem could be the accent of some Natives.

[water bottle]

I know a few people who have been there and a (white) girl born in New Caledonia who was with me at the University. You can speak to Native Caledonians and expatriate French as if you were in France. The same French is spoken in Paris and Nouméa. The only problem could be the accent of some Natives.

Once again, my largely baseless speculation is pwnd by actual experience :p.

[Zay]

I know a few people who have been there and a (white) girl born in New Caledonia who was with me at the University. You can speak to Native Caledonians and expatriate French as if you were in France. The same French is spoken in Paris and Nouméa. The only problem could be the accent of some Natives.

So is French like Spanish, where you have an "authority" (real academia) that sets the standard for the language worldwide, regardless of dialect?

[water bottle]

^http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acad%C3%A9mie_fran%C3%A7aise

edit: Quebec has l'académie française as well, though I don't believe they do much regarding regulating the actual structure of the language. They're far too worried about that guy in west Montreal who has an English sign outside his store.

[Vox Ducis]

So is French like Spanish, where you have an "authority" (real academia) that sets the standard for the language worldwide, regardless of dialect?

No, France doesn't set any standard worldwide. The French language spoken in France is spoken in all French territories and former colonies. That's why there's no difference in the language if you travel to New Caledonia, Africa, Martinique or Tahiti. There is obviously local dialects based on French, but no problems for tourists : they'll talk to you in French.

^http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acad%C3%A9mie_fran%C3%A7aise

edit: Quebec has l'académie française as well, though I don't believe they do much regarding regulating the actual structure of the language. They're far too worried about that guy in west Montreal who has an English sign outside his store.

That's right. The Quebecois are far more conservative than the French when it comes to new terms. They try to avoid keeping an English word, unlike us.

[reallystupidstuff]

Vive le trash!