Angevin dialect

Angevin is a language spoken in France, around Angers, Nantes and in Brittany. It is closely related to Gallo.

Angevin
Native to	France
Region	Pays de la Loire (Anjou, Maine, Pays Nantais), Centre-Val de Loire (Touraine)
Language family	Indo-European Italic Latino-Faliscan Romance Italo-Western Western Gallo-Romance Oïl Angevin
Writing system	Latin
Language codes
ISO 639-3	None (mis)
Glottolog	ange1244

Angevin was the old speech of the Angevins or House of Plantagenet. However, in spite of this prestigious dynasty, Angevin never developed a notable literature. This was also because the region of Anjou was integrated into the royal domains of the King of France (from the House of Capet) at the beginning of the 13th century. The literary language there was Parisian-based Francien.

Some words of Angevin origin were borrowed to English via Anglo-Norman at the Angevins domination of England.

Today it is almost an extinct dialect or language but it is preserved in the Rimiaux, poems written in Angevin, and also in some daily expressions.

Literature

The Rimiaux are some of the best expressions of Angevin literature. Several Rimiaux from Angevin poets and writers have been published.

Honoré de Balzac used some Angevin words and speech in his novel Eugénie Grandet.

Bibliography

• Paroles d'Oïl, DPLO, Mougon 1994, ISBN 2-905061-95-2
• A.-J. Verrier et R. Onillon, Glossaire étymologique et historique des parlers et patois de l'Anjou, t. I et II, 1908, consulter en ligne (tome I), consulter en ligne (tome II)
• Mots et expressions des Patois d'Anjou, Petit dictionnaire, Petit Pavé, 116 p. (ISBN 291158788X)
• Augustin Jeanneau et Adolphe Durand, Le Parler populaire en Anjou, Choletais, 1982, 197 p.
• Encyclopédie Bonneteau : Anjou, Maine-et-Loire, avril 2010, 320 p.
• Honoré de Balzac, Eugénie Grandet, vol. 5, édition dite du Furne, 1843
• Le petit Larousse (ISBN 2033012891)