langue d'oil Langue d'oc

Langue d'oc, langue d'oil. These terms refer respectively to the southern (or Occitan) and northern dialects of France. They are based on the words for ‘yes’, the southern oc deriving from Latin hoc and the northern oïl from Latin hoc ille. Both terms date from the 13th c., but reflect an earlier distinction [see History of the French Language].