French isn't just spoken in France - more than 100 million speakers use French in over 50 countries throughout the world.

The BBC TV programme The French Connection looks at how French is spoken around the world. What does the language represent for its different communities, and what does the future hold for this ever-changing language? Here are some key extracts from the programme. You can also check the links for more information.

Read the programme transcript.

La langue française

What does French mean to its speakers across the world?

Sénégal

What is la francophonie? Artists and politicians share their perspectives.

Algérie

What's in a name? A young film director talks about his language and identity.

Québec

In Francophone regions of Canada, identity is deeply rooted in language, but how can they protect this?

Martinique et Guadeloupe

The French Caribbean islands are a linguistic melting pot. Writers and artists explore the richness of creole.

Paris

The cultural meeting point for francophone Africa.

Le français aujourd'hui et demain

What will French sound like in the future?

Links

Links on la francophonie, francophone music and countries