Occitan

Part of speech: adjective, noun

Definitions

1. A Romance language predominantly spoken in southern France; a group of dialects related to this language including Provençal and Languedocien; an official regional language recognized in some areas of France
2. A distinct Romance language with roots in southern France, largely spoken in regions like Occitania; encompassing various dialects such as Provençal and Languedocien; formally acknowledged in several administrative jurisdictions within France
3. A Romance language originating in the south of France, utilized in territories known as Occitania; including a variety of dialects like Provençal and Languedocien; recognized officially in certain regions of France

Etymology: The name comes from "oc," the word for "yes" in the medieval langue d'oc, the dialects of southern France. Northern French speakers, whose word for "yes" was "oïl" (later "oui"), used the contrast to divide the country: the north spoke the langue d'oïl, the south the langue d'oc. The "-an" ending is the same as in words like "Roman," and the term was later used to name the whole group of southern dialects. Modern English took the name from French, where "occitan" was the adjective form of the older "Occitanie" region name. Because the medieval south had no single political unit or standard language, the label stuck as a convenient umbrella term for many related varieties, from Provençal to Languedocien, rather than for one nation's tongue.