Provencal language

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July 21, 2026

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The term "Provençal language" refers to a group of dialects within the Occitan language, a Romance language spoken in southern France. Historically, "Provençal" was used to describe the dialects of the Provence region and also referred to the standardized medieval literary language.12

During the 12th to 14th centuries, Old Provençal was a significant literary language, particularly for poetry and the works of the troubadours. While French influence grew, a literary revival in the mid-19th century, led by the Fé librige, brought renewed attention to Occitan, with Frédéric Mistral being a notable figure. Today, Occitan dialects are considered endangered, with most speakers also using French.1

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Occitan language
The name Provençal originally referred to the Occitan dialects of the Provence region and is used also to refer to the standardized medieval literary language and still-vigorous literary movement based on the dialect of Provence. Because of that long literary tradition, many in the Provence region still…
Read More
The name Provençal originally referred to the Occitan dialects of the Provence region and is used also to refer to the standardized medieval literary language and still-vigorous literary movement based on the dialect of Provence. Because of that long literary tradition, many in the Provence region still…
Read More