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
I. 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“?
II. French Candians are very proud of their culture and language
1. Foreigners need to be able to talk in French in Quebec
2. French is at the core of Quebecois´ national culture
3. French is worth to be preserved
4. “Pollution“ of the French language needs to be prevented
III. Quebecois define themselves by comparison to France and by opposition to the English language
1. Joual as a mixture between English and French as a sign of “distinctiveness“
2. Joual became popular in different layers of society
3. Joual faded in order to cure the Quebec language
4. Joual as a “variety of French spoken in Quebec“
5. Joual as a dialect spoken by Quebecers of Montreal
6. Joual as a deformed language
IV. French is the official language of Quebec
1. The development from Bill 63, over Bill 22, to Bill 101 in trying to promote French in Quebec
2. The three bills reflect the rising nationalist ideology
V. English becomes more dominant as the language of work
1. English speaking corporations started to establish themselves in Quebec
2. “External faces“ of businesses should be made more French
3. Food inscriptions should be exclusively in French
4. The right of workers is to use French on the working place
5. French is the second class language
6. English is a more common language in conversations with superiors
7. The average income of an English employee is much higher than the one of an French worker
8. The same trend can be found in comparing earnings and bilingualism
9. Discriminations of francophones in promotions
VI. Montreal is a city, where French is about to lose its majority status
1. Immigrants rather adopt the English than the French language and culture
2. There is a threat of immigrants who could align themselves with the English minority
3. English is played down as being one of the founding races of Quebec
4. There are governmental plans to integrate immigrants into the French society
5. English educational, social, cultural and economic institutions were established in Montreal
a) cultural activities were developed
b) English media can be found in Montreal
c) The language of anglophones in Montreal is different from the one in Canada
d) English speakers in Quebec have far more rights than francophones in the rest of Canada
VII. Education is an important aspect in the “anglicization“ of Quebec
1. Immigrants are much more attracted to the English speaking school system
2. The Bill 22 is a reaction to the “anglicization“ of immigrant children
3. Through the Bill 101, all kids have to attend French schools except a few exceptions
4. Proposition of English as a second language in Quebec´s public schools
5. There are disadvantages in the economic sector as well
6. It is important for French speakers to learn English for the working place
VIII. Language tendencies in Quebec are unpredictable, because of all the influences
Research Objective and Topics
This paper examines the linguistic landscape of Quebec between 1960 and 2000, investigating whether French can maintain its status as the predominant language or if the province is transitioning toward English dominance due to various socio-political pressures.
- The struggle for linguistic preservation and "purism" in Quebec
- The rise and social perception of "Joual" as a distinct linguistic marker
- Legislative attempts to protect the French language through various Bills (63, 22, 101)
- Disparities between English and French speakers in the workplace and economic life
- The challenges of immigrant integration and the specific linguistic situation in Montreal
Excerpt from the Book
Joual as a mixture between English and French as a sign of “distinctiveness“
Quebec always had to define itself “by comparison and opposition“ to both its English language surroundings and to the French language norm in France (Handler 163). Quebecois always felt the need to distinguish themselves from the masses: but if the language they speak is the one of France, where can the distinctiveness of the Quebecois be found? And if it is not the French of France, what is it then?
Young people in the 1970s tried to find an answer to that question by “inventing“ a language mixture between English and French to emphasize their distinctiveness. ‘Joual‘, as it was called, meant the “degenerated language of Quebec“, made famous by the book “Les insolences du Frère Untel“. Frère Untel (“Brother Anonymous“) explained, why the term joual was well chosen: “There is a suitable relation between the thing and the noun which designates it. The word is odious and the thing is odious. The word Joual is a kind of condensed description of what it is to speak Joual: to speak Joual is precisely to say joual instead of cheval [horse]. It is to talk as one can suppose horses would talk if they hadn´t already opted for silence.“ (Handler 163).
Summary of Chapters
I. 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“?: This chapter sets the demographic stage, acknowledging the numerical dominance of French speakers while questioning the long-term sustainability of the language against global "anglicization".
II. French Candians are very proud of their culture and language: This section explores the deep cultural pride of Quebecois, positioning the French language as the fundamental core of their national identity.
III. Quebecois define themselves by comparison to France and by opposition to the English language: This chapter analyzes how Quebec identity is constructed through linguistic differentiation, focusing on the rise and subsequent critique of the "Joual" dialect.
IV. French is the official language of Quebec: The author traces the legislative history of language protection, specifically the transition from Bill 63 to the restrictive Bill 101.
V. English becomes more dominant as the language of work: This part highlights the economic disparity between French and English speakers, documenting systemic discrimination in the workplace and corporate environments.
VI. Montreal is a city, where French is about to lose its majority status: This chapter focuses on Montreal as a microcosm of language decline, influenced by immigrant assimilation patterns and the prevalence of English-language institutions.
VII. Education is an important aspect in the “anglicization“ of Quebec: This section details how educational policy and school choice became a battleground for linguistic survival, particularly concerning immigrant children.
VIII. Language tendencies in Quebec are unpredictable, because of all the influences: The concluding chapter synthesizes the complex factors influencing Quebec's linguistic future, emphasizing the uncertain outcome of ongoing nationalist efforts.
Keywords
Quebec, French language, English language, anglicization, Joual, Bill 101, language policy, Montreal, immigrant integration, nationalism, Quebecois identity, bilingualism, linguistic discrimination, workplace language, cultural preservation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research paper?
The paper investigates the language landscape in Quebec from 1960 to 2000, specifically looking at the competition between French and English and the efforts made by the Quebec government to preserve French as the dominant language.
What are the central themes discussed in the work?
Key themes include the political use of language laws, the economic disparities between language groups, the socio-linguistic role of "Joual," and the challenges of immigrant integration in a historically francophone province.
What is the primary research question?
The study asks whether French will remain the predominant language in Quebec or if the influence of English, especially in the working and educational sectors, will eventually lead to a shift in language dominance.
Which scientific methodology is used?
The paper utilizes historical analysis, legislative review, and sociological perspectives, drawing on existing academic literature and socio-linguistic reports from the period to support its arguments.
What topics are covered in the main body?
The main body covers the history of Quebec's language bills, the rise of Joual, the dominance of English in corporate and economic sectors, linguistic challenges in Montreal, and the impact of educational policies on immigrant assimilation.
Which keywords characterize this work?
The primary keywords include Quebec, French language, English language, anglicization, Bill 101, nationalism, Joual, and linguistic policy.
How did Bill 101 change the educational system for immigrants?
Bill 101 mandated that all children attend French-language schools, with very few exceptions, as a strategy to integrate immigrant children into the French-speaking mainstream rather than allowing them to join the English-speaking minority.
Why was the "Joual" dialect historically controversial?
Joual was often criticized as a degraded version of French and a sign of economic colonization; however, it also served as a tool for some to emphasize the unique, distinct identity of Quebecers in opposition to the standard French of France.
- Citation du texte
- M.A. Susanne Schalch (Auteur), 2005, Language tendencies in Quebec 1960 until 2000, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/114781
