How long has french been spoken in Switzerland?

French has been spoken in Switzerland for centuries, dating back to the Middle Ages. It's difficult to pinpoint an exact date, as language evolution is a gradual process. Here's a breakdown:

* Early Middle Ages: The area that is now Switzerland was part of the Roman Empire, where Latin was spoken.

* Late Middle Ages: Following the decline of the Roman Empire, Germanic languages became dominant in most of Switzerland, but French was still spoken in some areas, particularly in the western part of the country.

* 16th Century: The Protestant Reformation led to a strengthening of German in many areas, while French remained prominent in the western cantons (Geneva, Vaud, Neuchâtel, Fribourg).

* 17th and 18th Centuries: French continued to be a language of administration, education, and culture in the western cantons, gaining even more prominence.

* 19th Century: Following the formation of the Swiss Confederation in 1848, French became recognized as one of the official languages of Switzerland.

Therefore, while the exact date of French's arrival in Switzerland is unclear, it has been spoken there for at least several hundred years.