francian

Francian is an infrequently used adjective and demonym that may appear in historical or speculative contexts. It is not a standard or widely defined term in modern scholarship, and its meaning can vary, sometimes referring to things connected with the Franks, or, less commonly, to France itself. In contemporary usage, more precise terms are preferred: Frankish for the medieval Germanic people; Old Frankish for their language; and French or Francophone for the modern nation and language of France.

In historic contexts, Francian would relate to the Frankish kingdoms of the early Middle Ages, which formed the basis for the later French realm. The term does not denote a single language or ethnolinguistic group recognized today.

In linguistics, the set of Franconian languages is a well-defined subgroup of West Germanic, including East Franconian and Rhine/Main-Franconian dialects. These are distinct from anything called Francian, and using Francian to refer to Franconian languages is considered inaccurate in most scholarly works.

Because of its ambiguity, Francian is predominantly found in older or nonstandard texts and sometimes in fiction, where it may be used as a stylistic stand-in for Francophone or French-related themes. Users encountering the term should seek context to determine whether it aims at Frankish heritage, the French language, or a purely fictional construct.

See also: France, French language, Frankish people, Franconian languages, Francophone.