Have you been wondering how is French used in Haiti? You’re not alone—and the video Titine by Languichatte (Haitian Creole: Titin de Langichat) is a great example of French in everyday Haitian life.
For a deep dive of the video Titin de Langichat—including new vocabulary, comprehension questions, and activities—please review the lesson: Titine by Languichatte: A Deep Dive.
How French Is Used in Haiti: The Example of Titin
French plays an integral role in this comedy sketch, with the punchlines delivered entirely in French. Although Titin is the butt of the joke and appears to be well-off, her command of French is quite poor. The contrast between her abilities and those of her sister effectively illustrates how French fluency is often used as a measure of intelligence.
Throughout Langichat’s story, he continually equates fluent French with being cultured and educated. More than money or material possessions, education has long been—and still is—the ultimate status symbol among Haitians. French is the language of the wealthy minority. Despite the comical situations and perfectly timed punchlines, Titin’s story offers a poignant commentary on the social status of French in Haitian society.
What makes Titin’s situation even more ironic is that her poor command of the language does not reflect her economic standing. Instead of questioning the sink-or-swim school system that failed her, Titin’s peers ridicule her efforts.
The Rise of Haitian Creole
At the time this was performed, children were taught exclusively in French, even though Haitian Creole was the language spoken by the people. Haitian Creole wasn’t recognized as a real language but was dismissed as the ‘broken French’ of the poor.
Children were often punished for speaking Kreyòl in school. This deeply ingrained attitude toward French—rooted in Haiti’s colonial past—continues to affect the school system to this day.
However, since Haitian Creole became the official language of Haiti in 1987, gradual changes have been underway. Today, the average Haitian child can at least read in their native language. Yet, this falls short of having all school subjects taught in Kreyòl. In fact, most official documents are still written in French.
For more insight, explore the Haitian Creole articles below:
Bilingual Humor and the Prestige of French in Haiti
Langichat’s use of French in this comedy sketch is a strong example of how Haitians draw on their bilingual abilities. French is often used by the socially aware to poke fun at the pretentiousness of the so-called “educated” class.
Those who excel in the school system often switch seamlessly between French and Haitian Creole, reserving French for formal or public settings. Their speech tends to carry distinct accents, especially the pronounced “u” sound—absent from standard Kreyòl spoken throughout the country.
Listening to native content like this story is a great way to tune your ear to this common Haitian Creole accent. It’s especially useful since you’re likely to hear it often in the news and official announcements.
