Complaints to OQLF way up
Language complaints to the OQLF are way up over the last two years, and Montreal is inevitably the hotspot. Analyses suggest there are simply not enough Montreal families speaking French to their kids at home; the other side of the coin is that more of us are capable of speaking French in general than ever.
Ant6n 10:16 on 2021-06-23 Permalink
In a democracy, its not the government’s business which language ppl speak at home.
Blork 10:58 on 2021-06-23 Permalink
Quebec pulls the Notwithstanding Clause on that one.
Kate 13:56 on 2021-06-23 Permalink
It’s an interesting point. If a lot of people in Montreal are speaking French from necessity, but when they go home they speak another language to their families, and presumably consume entertainment in languages other than French, doesn’t that begin to hollow out the culture?
I was surprised yesterday to hear a lot of English spoken by people in Villeray, east of St‑Denis. Including some kids.
Blork 14:50 on 2021-06-23 Permalink
I recall it being an issue a few years ago when kids where speaking English to each other in the schoolyard at break time. Teachers would yell at them and tell them to speak French only at school (even if they were talking to their own siblings), which made me think of residential schools. (Not making a direct comparison, but it comes to mind.)
Kevin 15:32 on 2021-06-23 Permalink
This is the massive blindspot of language legislation: Bill 101 was the shock that got almost everyone to the point where they are capable of speaking French, but the law’s creators and supporters operate under the false paradigm that language IS culture, and culture IS language, and so there is only room for one.
It’s why they despise multiculturalism so much, because that is a living breathing vibrant demonstration that they are wrong.
EmilyG 17:12 on 2021-06-23 Permalink
Around 2012-2014 I was taking an adult-ed course, which happened to be in French, though it wasn’t specifically a French-learning course. We did get admonished when we spoke English to each other even during breaks and in personal, one-on-one conversations with other anglophones.
Ant6n 17:15 on 2021-06-23 Permalink
I find attitudes where ppl treat each other thus way utterly strange. Like there’s something pure about french and dirty about other languages, and it’s the solemn duty if everyone to police everybody else on being pure.
Kate 08:34 on 2021-06-24 Permalink
Ant6n – well, yeah. That’s how it is. English is a contaminant. Other languages – well, it would be better if they weren’t used in Quebec either, but English is the real toxin.