French? In a passport? Why so?

[bobleponge]

Was having a chat with one of the South Africans here, and he showed me his passport and asked me why, in his passport, is it written in English and French?
Got me thinking, there is also some foreign stuff in my Brit passport too.

Anyone know why?

[Incy]

I believe that French is or was the official diplomatic language which might be why.

[bobleponge]

French still is the official diplomatic language, but the majority of people who check passports that I've met on my travels generally speak their mother tongue and English.

I suggest your reason is why, Incy, its what I thought myself, but I cant see the relevance in, for example, a South African having a passport in English and French.
Such little things keep me awake at nights, I really should get out more I guess.

[Incy]

Such little things keep me awake at nights, I really should get out more I guess.

You certainly shouldn't let it keep you awake Bob! Way back when I graduated, I looked into applying for the foreign office and French was required for that too

[Patchninja]

There are a lot of countries that speak French - African ones too.

[TonyF]

Lucky it's only French, in some countries the language of diplomacy was classical Persian - which J's family actually spoke, not cos they were diplomats but cos that's where they were born (Armenians) and educated.

[bobleponge]

There are quite a few ex French colonies in Africa, 'tis true, but geographically they are a long way from the southern Cape.
A quick passport recce round the office tells me that:
German passports = German/English/French (logical ish)
Italian passports = Italian/English/French (logical ish)
Indian passports = Hindi/English (logical)

The dip theory appears to be groundless if Indians dont have French in their passports.

Confused from Oran!

[Glutton4...]

You need to get out more, Spongey!

[elsie-scot]

Probably for the same reason that they always do the Eurovison song contest in host country language, English and French!

[Paulottie]

French is the probably the language of diplomacy because it can be so beautifully ambiguous.

[organic]

Bob - may I politely suggest you stop trying to find sense or reason in rampant beaurocracy? I found I slept much better when I gave up trying to find the "why" in the actions of the lunatics running this particular asylum.

That semi-serious, semi-joking comment aside... I'm inclined to agree with the diplomacy thing.

Probably the reason India doesn't have French is a hangover from its days as a British colony.

[HeyWayne]

Such little things keep me awake at nights, I really should get out more I guess.

I usually end up finding myself pondering the concept of time whilst straddling betwixt zones in major airports.

My conclusion - it's always drinking time somewhere in the world.

[bobleponge]

French is the probably the language of diplomacy because it can be so beautifully ambiguous.

From a man married to a French woman, I'm assuming you have experience.

But actually, thats exactly why it IS the language of diplomacy, you can say so much whilst saying nothing.

[organic]

From a man married to a French woman, I'm assuming you have experience.

But actually, thats exactly why it IS the language of diplomacy, you can say so much whilst saying nothing.

Include the wonderfully gallic shrug and you can say even less!

Could the shrug be the most expressive part of the French language? It can certainly be the most infuriating at times. Haha.
Probably a bit tricky to get onto a passport though - particularly as they now insist on the emotionless, expressionless photos to go in them.