Language tendencies in Quebec 1960 until 2000

Is French going to remain the predominant language in Quebec, or are the first steps towards a replacement by English already done?

Trabajo de Seminario , 2005 , 17 Páginas , Calificación: 2,0

Estudios de América - Lingüística

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.

Inhaltsverzeichnis

• Thesis statement
• 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
• Conclusion
• Literaturverzeichnis

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte

This research paper aims to investigate the question of whether French will remain the dominant language in Quebec, Canada, or if there is a shift towards English becoming the predominant language. The paper examines the historical and contemporary factors influencing language dynamics in Quebec, focusing on the interplay between French and English.

• The dominance of French in Quebec and the potential threat of "anglicization"
• The role of French language and culture in Quebecois identity
• The impact of government policies on language promotion and preservation
• The influence of English in the workplace and economic sectors
• The role of immigration and language integration in shaping the linguistic landscape of Quebec

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel

The paper begins by acknowledging the significant French-speaking population in Quebec, highlighting the historical and cultural significance of French in the province. However, it also raises concerns about the potential for English to become more dominant, considering the global influence of English and the surrounding English-speaking regions. The paper explores the pride and cultural identity associated with French in Quebec, emphasizing the importance of preserving the language and resisting "anglicization." It delves into the concept of "Joual," a unique dialect of French spoken in Quebec, and its evolution as a symbol of Quebecois identity. The paper examines the historical development of government policies aimed at promoting French in Quebec, including the implementation of Bills 63, 22, and 101. It analyzes the increasing dominance of English in the workplace, particularly in corporate settings, and the potential for discrimination against French speakers in terms of promotions and earnings. The paper explores the linguistic dynamics of Montreal, a city where French is facing challenges in maintaining its majority status due to immigration patterns and the presence of established English institutions. It examines the role of education in the "anglicization" of Quebec, focusing on the attraction of immigrants to English-speaking schools and the government's efforts to promote French education. The paper concludes by acknowledging the complex and unpredictable nature of language tendencies in Quebec, highlighting the various factors that contribute to the ongoing linguistic landscape.

Schlüsselwörter

The key words and focus themes of the text include French language, Quebec, anglicization, language preservation, cultural identity, government policies, immigration, education, and linguistic dynamics.

• Universidad: LMU Munich (Amerikanistik Institut)
• Curso: Canada Today
• Calificación: 2,0
• Autor: M.A. Susanne Schalch (Autor)
• Año de publicación: 2005
• Páginas: 17
• No. de catálogo: V114781
• ISBN (Ebook): 9783640168873
• ISBN (Libro): 9783640171835
• Idioma: Inglés
• Etiqueta: Language, Quebec, Canada, Today