Belgian French

Belgian French (French: français de Belgique) is the variety of French spoken mainly in the French Community of Belgium, alongside related minority regional languages such as Walloon, Picard, Champenois and Lorrain (Gaumais). French was earlier extensively used also in Flanders, especially by the region's Francophone upper classes, and its usage has decreased primarily because of the efforts of the Flemish Movement and the rise of English as a popular alternative. The role of French remains a controversial topic in Flanders, especially concerning the municipalities with language facilities. French is nonetheless a commonly known second language in Flanders. Belgian French and the French of northern France are almost identical, but there are a few distinct phonological and lexical differences.