Why is french spoken in switzerland?

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Stefan

Thatâ€™s because of historic reasons. Switzerland consists of 26 cantons which have a high level of political independence. Each canton has itâ€™s own democratic institutions - a cantonal constitution, a cantonal par lament as well as a cantonal government and police.

The Swiss Confederation started as a military alliance in 1291 and transformed into a federation over the centuries. Some of the early members of the confederation were French speaking. In the early centuries of the confederation the members fought dozens of wars and occupied the main part of modern Switzerland. That is the reason why Swiss people speak French, Swiss German, Italian and Romantsch.

Goddess of Grammar

Some bits of the French-speaking world decided to be part of the Swiss Federation rather than part of France.
Unless you mean why actual French, when the German spoken here are very different dialects. Hmm, not sure, I think because the German speakers were more inclined to distinguish themselves from Germany during and after the two world wars than the French speakers were from France.
My husband's grandmother has been coming up with Jurassien (a more-or-less dying Swiss dialect of French that she spoke as a child) more and more lately.
For what it's worth, French isn't spoken a heck of a lot here in Zurich (well by my husband and kids yes).

David Y

Because of the roots of the cantons from each region have had ties with the neighbouring regions. Switzerland has a few mountains that have a tendency to change the orientation of some of the cantons toward the neighbouring country. That explains some of the French, Italian and German.

madonna_toller

Luckely many Swiss speak diff. languages BUT all of us have to learn them like anybody else on this Planet.Why french? It's a part of our culture (also foodl).

Charlie

History and geography...Switzerland is located between France, Germany and Italy. People in Switzerland are descended from people from these nations...and at different times in history it was invaded by and ruled by these countries. Switzerland has 4 official languages, Italian, French German, and Romansh.

ryrygta

the root darives from Switzerland

Heather v

French is spoken in Switzerland because it is one of the neighboring countries. You will find that in almost all countries in Europe!

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