Why do French people use so many nasal sounds in their language?

The French language is known for its nasal vowels, which are created by allowing air to escape through the nose while pronouncing certain sounds. This distinctive feature of the language is a result of its history and evolution over time.

The use of nasal sounds in French dates back to the Middle Ages when Latin was the language of the educated class. As the language evolved, so did the pronunciation of words. In the 16th century, a phonetic shift occurred that created the nasal vowels that we know today.

There are several theories as to why nasal sounds are so prevalent in French. One theory is that they were originally a result of the influence of the Occitan language, which was spoken in the south of France. Another theory is that the shift occurred as a way to distinguish between different vowel sounds that had become more similar over time.

Regardless of the reason for their origin, nasal sounds are now an integral part of the French language and are used to differentiate between words that would otherwise sound identical. While they may be challenging for non-native speakers to master, they are an important aspect of the French language and its cultural identity.