French is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world. It is a native language or an official language of government, education, and business in more than 30 countries on 5 continents. Long identified for its preeminent role in literature, philosophy, and the arts, French is also one of the most widely used languages of international business. Companies from France, Québec and other French-speaking nations are engaged in many technology-based industries and services, ranging from aerospace to biophysics, medicine, engineering, and computer technology. French is also an important language of diplomacy and international politics, and is an official working language of many of the world’s most important international organizations including the United Nations and the European Union.