French of Southern France

Standard French is based on the accent of northern France. This is the variety that is usually taught to foreigners. The French of southern France is distinct.

In northern France unstressed e is usually not pronounced, but it is in southern France. This is the case in the following words:

cerise (cherry)

fraise (strawberry)

samedi (Saturday)

semaine (week)

ville (city)

Nasal vowels are often pronounced with a velar nasal. For example, pain (bread) is pronounced with a velar nasal in southern France. In northern France, the vowel is fully nasalized.

The vowels of southern France are often different from those of the north. The word lait (milk) is pronounced with a closed vowel in the south, but an open vowel in the north. The word chose (thing) has an open vowel in the south, but a closed vowel in the north. 

The French of southern France lacks a phonemic opposition between the closed and open vowels. In northern France, les (the) has a closed vowel, and lait (milk) has an open vowel, but in southern France, both words have a closed vowel. In southern France, only closed vowels occur in open syllables, and only open vowels occur in closed syllables.

The French of southern France is distinct from Standard French. Thiis is especially evident in the vowels. In southern France, the phonemic distinction between the closed and open vowels does not exist. Unlike in the north, the unstressed e is pronounced in all positions and nasal vowels are often pronounced with a velar nasal.