This research paper wants to discuss the question, whether French is able to
remain the predominant language in Canada´s province Quebec, or if there is a shift
towards replacement by the English language.
Obviously, the number of the French speaking population in Quebec is a lot
higher than the one that speaks English. Currently, about 9% of world´s
Francophones are Canadians and of those, around 30% are Quebecers. French is
the mother tongue of over 80% of the Quebecois population, and of only 13%, it is
English (Gentsch 142). It seems as if the roles in Quebec are assigned.
But English is the world language and is spoken in the rest of Canada as well
as by 280 million inhabitants of its huge southern neighbor, the United States of
America. Quebec is surrounded by English speaking countries. Will a small province
like Quebec be able to preserve its culture and its language or is it going to be
overswept by the wave of “anglicization“ after all?
Canadians are very proud of their culture and language. It is very important for
foreigners, who visit Quebec, to speak French. In an newspaper article about a winter
festival in Quebec, a German boy said about himself and his friends: „Wir alle können
kein Französisch“ (Tourisme du Quebec) and therefore implicated that it is not
possible to manage a visit in the Canadian province without knowing any French. But
Quebec is not an only-French speaking province, is it? In almost all parts of the
world, tourists, who visit other countries, are able to correspond in English there. In
Quebec, although about 11% of all inhabitants are Anglophones, people prefer
leading a conversation in French. They are proud of their culture and their language
and therefore, they are looking down on everything that could endanger it. Quebecois
are very much afraid of English replacing their beloved French language.
The key component of Quebec´s national culture is their French language.
René Lévesque, leader of the Parti Québécois from 1976 until 1981, explained this in
1968: „Being ourselves is essentially a matter of developing and keeping a
personality that has survived for three and a half centuries.
Table of Contents
- The number of the French speaking population in Quebec is a lot higher than the English one. But is it possible in today's world not to be overrun by "anglicization"?
- French Candians are very proud of their culture and language
- Foreigners need to be able to talk in French in Quebec
- French is at the core of Quebecois´ national culture
- French is worth to be preserved
- "Pollution" of the French language needs to be prevented
- Quebecois define themselves by comparison to France and by opposition to the English language
- Joual as a mixture between English and French as a sign of "distinctiveness"
- Joual became popular in different layers of society
- Joual faded in order to cure the Quebec language
- Joual as a "variety of French spoken in Quebec"
- Joual as a dialect spoken by Quebecers of Montreal
- Joual as a deformed language
- French is the official language of Quebec
- The development from Bill 63, over Bill 22, to Bill 101 in trying to promote French in Quebec
- English becomes more dominant as the language of work
- English speaking corporations started to establish themselves in Quebec
- "External faces" of businesses should be made more French
- Food inscriptions should be exclusively in French
- The right of workers is to use French on the working place
- French is the second class language
- English is a more common language in conversations with superiors
- The average income of an English employee is much higher than the one of an French worker
- The same trend can be found in comparing earnings and bilingualism
- Discriminations of francophones in promotions
- Montreal is a city, where French is about to lose its majority status
- Immigrants rather adopt the English than the French language and culture
- There is a threat of immigrants who could align themselves with the English minority
- English is played down as being one of the founding races of Quebec
- There are governmental plans to integrate immigrants into the French society
- English educational, social, cultural and economic institutions were established in Montreal
- cultural activities were developed
- English media can be found in Montreal
- The language of anglophones in Montreal is different from the one in Canada
- English speakers in Quebec have far more rights than francophones in the rest of Canada
- Education is an important aspect in the "anglicization" of Quebec
- Immigrants are much more attracted to the English speaking school system
- The Bill 22 is a reaction to the “anglicization“ of immigrant children
- Through the Bill 101, all kids have to attend French schools except a few exceptions
- Proposition of English as a second language in Quebec's public schools
- There are disadvantages in the economic sector as well
- It is important for French speakers to learn English for the working place
- Language tendencies in Quebec are unpredictable, because of all the influences
Objectives and Key Themes
This research paper examines the question of whether French can remain the dominant language in Quebec, or if there is a shift towards English replacing it. The paper delves into the factors that influence the linguistic landscape of Quebec, exploring the role of language pride, cultural identity, and economic factors. * **The dominance of French in Quebec:** Despite the presence of a significant English-speaking population, French remains the predominant language in Quebec, with over 80% of the population identifying French as their mother tongue. * **The threat of anglicization:** The paper explores the perceived threat of English language dominance, particularly in areas like education, employment, and media. It examines the role of immigration and the increasing influence of English-speaking businesses. * **Language policy and legislation:** The research paper analyzes the development of various language policies in Quebec, including Bill 63, Bill 22, and Bill 101, which have been implemented to promote and preserve the French language. * **The impact of economic forces:** The paper examines the ways in which economic factors, such as the presence of English-speaking corporations and the perceived advantages of speaking English in the workplace, contribute to the linguistic landscape. * **The role of cultural identity:** The paper highlights the importance of French language and culture to Quebecers, exploring how they view their identity in relation to France and their opposition to the English language.Chapter Summaries
This section provides a brief summary of the main arguments and themes presented in the research paper, excluding any content from the conclusion or final chapter. * **Chapter 1: The Demographics of Language in Quebec:** The chapter establishes the dominance of French in Quebec, highlighting the significantly larger number of French speakers compared to English speakers. It introduces the idea of "anglicization" and the question of whether French can resist its influence. * **Chapter 2: French Pride and Cultural Identity:** This chapter explores the strong sense of cultural pride and language loyalty amongst French Canadians in Quebec. It examines how they view their language as central to their identity and how they strive to preserve it from perceived threats. * **Chapter 3: The Role of Joual:** The chapter delves into the history and evolution of Joual, a variety of French spoken in Quebec that reflects the influence of both French and English. It explores the different perspectives on Joual, ranging from its significance as a marker of distinctiveness to its perceived as a "deformed language." * **Chapter 4: Language Policy and Legislation:** This chapter examines the development of language policies in Quebec, tracing the evolution from Bill 63 to Bill 101. It analyzes the motivations behind these policies and their effectiveness in promoting the French language. * **Chapter 5: The Influence of English in the Workplace:** This chapter explores the increasing influence of English in the workplace, particularly in areas like business and finance. It examines the perceived advantages of English proficiency in the economic sector and the potential disadvantages for French speakers. * **Chapter 6: The Linguistic Landscape of Montreal:** This chapter examines the linguistic situation in Montreal, where French is facing a challenge to its majority status. It explores the role of immigration, the presence of English educational and cultural institutions, and the perceived threat of an English-speaking minority. * **Chapter 7: The Role of Education in Language Preservation:** This chapter focuses on the importance of education in shaping the linguistic future of Quebec. It explores the challenges of attracting immigrants to the French school system, the impact of legislation like Bill 22 and Bill 101, and the argument for promoting English as a second language. * **Chapter 8: Conclusion:** The conclusion of the research paper provides a comprehensive overview of the findings and explores the implications of the linguistic trends in Quebec. It offers insights into the future of French and its ability to withstand the forces of "anglicization."Keywords
This research paper delves into the complex linguistic landscape of Quebec, examining the dynamics between French and English, cultural identity, and economic forces. The key terms and concepts explored in the paper include: * **Anglicization** * **Language Policy** * **Cultural Identity** * **Economic Factors** * **Joual** * **Bill 63** * **Bill 22** * **Bill 101** * **Immigration** * **Bilingualism** * **Francophones** * **Anglophones** * **Montreal** * **Quebec** * **Canada**- Quote paper
- M.A. Susanne Schalch (Author), 2005, Language tendencies in Quebec 1960 until 2000, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/114781
