What does it mean when the two little arrows appear either side of a phrase or sentence in French?

The two little arrows, also known as guillemets, are used in French to indicate a direct quote or quotation marks. They are similar to the double quotation marks (" ") used in English.

Here are some examples:

* "Je suis fatigué," a-t-il dit. (He said, "I'm tired.")

* Il a dit : "Je suis fatigué". (He said: "I'm tired.")

Note:

* In French, the guillemets always point inward, unlike English quotation marks that can point inwards or outwards.

* The punctuation mark (period, comma, etc.) goes inside the closing guillemet.

* Guillemets can also be used to indicate a title of a work, like a book or a movie.

So, when you see the two little arrows in French, it means someone is quoting someone else or referencing a title.