
- Artificial Intelligence and Languages
- Our Members and their Languages
- Language Museums, Bookstores and Libraries
- A new way to see the Agenda!
- Expression Française: ‘Un Moulin à Paroles’
Everybody is talking about Artificial Intelligence (AI) these days, so why shouldn’t we? Especially since it plays an important role in the realm of languages.
Artificial Intelligence and Languages
AI is really changing the game when it comes to learning languages, making it easier and more fun. At the heart of it is something called Natural Language Processing (NLP), which helps computers understand and work with human language.

AI is already very much present in our daily lives: tools like Google Translate and DeepL use AI to break down language barriers, making translations more accurate than ever. And virtual assistants like Siri, Alexa, and ChatGPT are getting smarter too, not just answering questions but actually understanding conversations better.
When it comes to language learning, applications like Duolingo, Babbel, and Rosetta Stone are using AI to personalize lessons, adjusting to how you learn best. They even give you feedback on your pronunciation, which is extremely helpful.
ChatGPT can be like your personal language tutor, helping you practice and improve your skills by having conversations and explaining things in real-time. we are not far off from AI-powered virtual and augmented reality experiences that could make language learning feel like you’re actually in another country.
If you are more of a storyteller, speech recognition can transcribe spoken words into text—so you can simply talk and your computer types it out for you. Plus it is capable of sentiment analysis and can detect emotions in text.
It is also playing a key role in preserving languages by revitalizing languages that are at risk of disappearing. In collaboration with UNESCO, it is a crucial step toward safeguarding linguistic diversity.
Of course, there are challenges! AI can amplify biases and spread misinformation. It is not perfect, however, at understanding the cultural nuances of different languages just yet. Still, as AI continues to improve, the future of language learning is exciting and more personalized than ever!

Our Members and their Languages
Back in the 7th century, a new Roman language was born called Ungua romana rustica. In France, the word ’OUI’ (yes) was pronounced differently depending on where you were.
In the South, it became "Oc" and in the North, it became "Oil," also known as the Langue d’Oc and the Langue d’Oïl.
Our members reflect these linguistic differences and are great examples of how diverse and rich the language landscape of France and its regions really is!
Check out our website to have a detailed description of who they are and what they offer.
L’Amicale des Hauts de France, or Amicale des Chti’s (named after the local language, Ch’ti), represents the Picard language spoken in the northern part of France and parts of Belgium.
The Alsace Washington DC Association focuses on Alsatian, a language closely related to Alemannic dialects. If you’re near the border with Basel, Switzerland, you might find that Alsatian and Swiss German are mutually intelligible. In Alsace, some street signs are now bilingual, especially in cities like Strasbourg and Mulhouse.
The American Friends of Chartres is all about Francien, a variant of the Langue d’Oïl that includes dialects like Parisien and Orleanais. These dialects eventually came together to form what we know as modern French.
ASCA-Reims represents the Champenois dialect, spoken in Champagne and parts of Southern Belgium, where it is considered a regional language, and people in this area are proud of their heritage.
And finally, with the National Capital Club de Pétanque, you might catch some Provençal, a Langue d’Oc, or Occitan, which was famously used by the Troubadours in the Middle Ages.
Unfortunately, many of these languages have now been classified by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) as “severely endangered” with fewer younger people speaking them therefore highlighting the urgent need for preservation efforts…let’s hope they will be saved by AI.

Language Museums, Libraries and Bookstores.
Language Museums
Although there are few of them in the world, we have two Language museums in the Washington area and one in Paris.
Their goals are to celebrate the incredible diversity of languages and their histories. They dive into how languages evolve, their role in culture and society, and how they shape the way we communicate.
The National Museum of Language in Maryland is a one-of-a-kind spot that celebrates the history and diversity of languages around the world. The National Museum of Language shines a light on how language is tied to culture and the ongoing efforts to preserve languages that are at risk of disappearing.
In Washington D.C. Planet Word is an immersive language experience located in the historic Franklin School in Washington.
Planet Word is the first voice-activated museum in the world with interactive galleries and exhibits. Its restaurant offers Immigrant Food’s international menus that honor the gastronomic contributions of immigrants!
Then there’s Mundolingua in Paris, which is a totally interactive experience all about language and linguistics. Located in the heart of the city, it offers an engaging look into human communication, the science of language, and its impact on culture. Mundolingua is a must-see for anyone curious about how language shapes our world!

In addition to physical locations, several language museums and institutions offer online resources as well as digital platforms to explore endangered languages (e.g., UNESCO’s Atlas of the World’s Languages in Danger) and Interactive websites like Ethnologue, which provides detailed data on over 7,000 languages.
Libraries and Bookstores
If you want to learn, read or practice, there are lots of places where you can find resources.

- Alliance Française de Washington offers a large collection of French books. The reading room is open to everyone, and members can borrow books.
- Bonjour Books DC in Kensington, MD, has over 1,500 French titles. The owner runs a monthly French book club too.
- Second Story Books is at Dupont Circle and has huge a warehouse in Maryland, where you can find French literature.
- The Lantern in Georgetown sometimes offers French literature, and is run by volunteers.
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Lost City Books has a French section in its foreign language collection.
- Tempo Bookstore offers books in over 100 languages, including French.
A new way to see the Agenda!
You will continue to have a detailed list of our Members events,
but in addition you can now have a bird’s eye view of the Agenda in a monthly format.
On the Agenda page you will see a link and this picture

and it will take you to the new page.

We hope this will make it easier for you to...Save the Dates.
Les Expressions Françaises
Un Moulin à Paroles
A chatterbox

The expression comes to us from a book written in 1695 by a man of the name of Menage, who wrote the ’Menagania - Critical, historical, moral and erudite witticisms and remarks.’
(Menagania -les bons mots et remarques critiques, historiques, morales et d’érudition).
A very witty book, worth reading if it were not in old French!
’She also said of a lady who indeed talked a lot, although eloquently, that she was a “mill of words”, comparing her to the noisy mills that grind flour.’