Languedocien

Languedocien, also called Lengadocian, is a dialect of Occitan, a Romance language spoken in southern France. It belongs to the Occitano-Romance subgroup and forms part of the Langue d’oc continuum alongside other Occitan varieties. Languedocien is traditionally spoken in the Languedoc region of southern France, now largely within the administrative area of Occitanie, with communities in Hérault, Aude, Gard, Tarn, Lozère and nearby areas. The dialect comprises several subdialects that reflect local geography, and it exhibits distinctive vocabulary and phonological patterns compared with other Occitan varieties.

Usage and status: Like many regional languages of France, Languedocien declined as French became dominant in the 19th and 20th centuries. It survives in parts of rural communities, among older speakers, and within cultural associations. There are also Occitan language classes, immersion programs, and regional festivals that support its use. Media in Occitan and educational resources contribute to ongoing preservation and revival efforts, including dictionaries, grammars, and learner materials in Languedocien.

Writing and standardization: There is no single universally adopted standard for Languedocien; writers use several orthographies derived from broader Occitan norms. The Institut d'Estudis Occitans (IEO) promotes a unified Occitan orthography for educational materials and official publications across Occitan varieties, including texts in Languedocien.

Relation to other languages: Languedocien is generally mutually intelligible with other Occitan dialects to varying degrees and is often treated as a territorial variant of Occitan rather than as a separate language. It forms a key part of the broader cultural and linguistic identity of the Languedoc and Occitania regions.