English: an invasive cultural pathogen
The Journal is not letting up on the issue of getting served in English in stores in Montreal. Mayor Plante is said to be concerned about it. How to create a vaccine against an invasive cultural pathogen? It’s a tricky one.
Update: 54 recommendations on enforcing the use of French, which mostly applies to Montreal, after all.
Uatu 14:32 on 2020-11-14 Permalink
I’m going to do my part by boycotting shopping downtown from now on…… Oh wait…
Kevin 20:45 on 2020-11-14 Permalink
That’s actually a very detailed article.
I’m glad they point out that Montreal is less than 50% francophone, that there is a serious labour shortage in retail, but I’m not sure most readers realize that the foreign companies are ignoring the law.
denpanosekai 22:34 on 2020-11-14 Permalink
How many of these offended journalists actually live here…
TC 23:08 on 2020-11-14 Permalink
From an outsider point of view, I’ve always thought the “bonjour/hello” greeting is a nice way to offer both languages, and one I have experienced in Montreal. I’ve traveled a bit, and have family in Italy. Often staff in restaurants, stores, post offices or on public transit have greeted me using the language they thought I spoke. Sometimes correct, sometimes not. As someone who works in bars and restaurants, by the end of the article I was feeling very sympathetic to the workers. Not the best paid jobs, there is a pandemic, you are at risk and you are supposed to be fluent in two languages.
Kate 10:44 on 2020-11-15 Permalink
Well exactly. “Bonjour, Hi” just indicates that a store employee is prepared to serve you in the language of your choice. Store owners know they make more sales if people feel comfortable asking questions in their own language. It makes no sense to enforce French-only in downtown Montreal where (in normal times anyway) there are tourists and students more comfortable in English. It’s not reasonable for politicians and op-ed writers to expect store owners to alienate potential customers by refusing to speak English to them on principle.