Montreal City Weblog

Kate 16:33 on 2019-10-04 Permalink Reply  

• jeather 18:04 on 2019-10-04 Permalink

  I love all the quotes saying how they want people to say “bonjour” as if that were not the actual first word spoken.

• Dhomas 18:22 on 2019-10-04 Permalink

  I guess there is absolutely nothing at all more important to spend government resources on. Nothing at all.

• ProposMontréal 19:52 on 2019-10-04 Permalink

  As one of the frenchy-separatist on this site, I must say that this is one of the most stupid idea I,ve seen in years!

• Kevin 19:58 on 2019-10-04 Permalink

  Do MNAs know how much we laugh at them for this kind of talk?

  Nothing makes English more attractive and makes the French language less desirable.

• qatzelok 07:46 on 2019-10-05 Permalink

  It was the “bonjour-hi” crowd that lead to the construction of condo towers overlooking Cabot Square, and this project has so far killed more than one first nations woman.

  Not to mention the genocide of 110 First Nations a few hundred years earlier by the same crowd.

  Actions have consequences. Say “No” to “Bonjour-Hi.”

• Kate 07:51 on 2019-10-05 Permalink

  qatzelok, that’s hysteria.

  I’ve said this before on the blog: all “bonjour-hi” does is tell a prospective customer in your store that you’re happy to serve them in either language. It is not fair and not realistic to try to make retail workers alienate potential customers by stubbornly refusing to speak English, especially in parts of Montreal where there’s an anglo presence and in areas with tourism, notably downtown and Old Montreal.

  If I have the prospect of saying “bonjour, hi” and keeping you in my store vs. just saying “bonjour” and having you leave, what do you think I’m going to do? Every instinct says I should be inclusive and adaptive because that’s how retail has worked for 3000 years.

  The CAQ has come in at least partly on a right-wing, pro-business platform. This is one area in which they could use a little more common business sense.

• qatzelok 07:53 on 2019-10-05 Permalink

  Kate, I was being comically obtuse above. But in all seriousness, our many Ameircan tourists prefer “bonjour” because it makes them feel like they’re somewhere interesting and different than suburban Milwaukee.

• Kate 07:56 on 2019-10-05 Permalink

  They may enjoy a bit of “bonjour” but for years now I’ve read variations on this kind of thing: “I’d love to visit Montreal but I’m afraid people will be rude or difficult because I don’t speak French” followed by a chorus of replies saying not to worry, anywhere a tourist wants to go, English will not be snubbed.

  They want the bonjour, just maybe, but they need the hi.

• qatzelok 08:36 on 2019-10-05 Permalink

  Kate, are you suggesting that Americans don’t understand what “bonjour” means? Or that they are cowering in fear worried about the Frenchness of Montreal?

• Kate 08:53 on 2019-10-05 Permalink

  I am saying that my experience shows that a lot of Americans are nervous about being embarrassed or shamed over not knowing French if they come here. I have not collected examples but I’ve seen it over and over again in local forums of various kinds. I’m not making it up.

• JaneyB 09:55 on 2019-10-05 Permalink

  The ‘Hi’ is indeed very important for American tourists. On forums and in person (abroad), they worry visiting will be hard because they don’t understand French. It is a key concern.

  When I first moved here from English-Canada, I heard the ‘Bonjour-Hi’ downtown and just responded back with ‘Bonjour-Hi’. I figured it was a wacky Montreal thing not a language cue. So, there’s that. Most of younger English-Canada is unaware that English is spoken at all in Quebec. The CAQ needs to take a nap.

• Kevin 10:29 on 2019-10-05 Permalink

  JaneyB
  The ignorance is not limited to the young.
  I lived outside this province for 10 years and as soon as people learned I was from Quebec they immediately wondered how I spoke impeccable English.
  Unless they have family here, nobody on this continent understands the linguistic split of this place.

• Ephraim 18:52 on 2019-10-05 Permalink

  What we need is a law that allows us to SLAP those people who, when you speak to them in English in Montreal immediately ask you “Where are you from in the United States?” As if no one in Canada, England, Ireland, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, etc. speaks English.

• EmilyG 19:47 on 2019-10-05 Permalink

  My idea:
  Say “Allo” in such a way that it might also sound like “Hello.”

• Kate 20:15 on 2019-10-05 Permalink

  Ephraim, I get asked where I’m from. I was born here. My great-grandmother was born here. It makes me tired.

  Anyway, the Gazette talked to some downtown business folks, and these points were cited: “The instinct is to accommodate the guest” – “Why wouldn’t we reach out to more people?”

• Uatu 00:50 on 2019-10-06 Permalink

  I like the connection that the expenses that keep the ministers in QC city happy are paid by tax revenue from sales made by businesses catering to clients who might spend more if made comfortable by being served in their language (sometimes a language other than English). You’d think a businessman like Legault would know this.

• Chris 15:42 on 2019-10-06 Permalink

  Or perhaps it’s all a deliberate diversionary tactic, get people distracted talking about this, and not other issues.

• jeather 21:00 on 2019-10-06 Permalink

  And there will soon be a new cafe called Cafe Bonjour/Hi.