Language Laws in Quebec
In Quebec the first language is French; everyone is expecting to speak it primarily. While French is recognized as Canada’s second language, in all other provinces English is the primary one. This has caused some tension among the Francophone community, particularly in Quebec, as many immigrants are choosing to learn English over French. In the long term, this may be more beneficial to them, especially for those who wish to later travel through Canada or North America. However, Quebec is finding that the percentages of French speaking people are decreasing substantially.
In 1989, the number of French speaking workplaces in Montreal was 85 percent, and in 2010 it was recorded that the number has dropped to 80 percent. That is a significant decrease in just eleven years, and the reasoning behind it mostly lays onto the immigrants. When immigrating to Quebec, the option is given to learn English or French. Learning English can seem to be a very compelling choice; English is the most common language used among foreign speakers. …show more content…
Particularly in a workplace settings, many Quebec residents have stated that “we simply cannot ignore our English customers.” While English was supposed to be use solely when it is a necessity, many tourists and non-French speaking individuals travel through Quebec, particularly through Montreal. They feel that it is unfair to instate a law that prohibits use of the English language, seeing as it is still recognized as one of the languages of
In Quebec the first language is French; everyone is expecting to speak it primarily. While French is recognized as Canada’s second language, in all other provinces English is the primary one. This has caused some tension among the Francophone community, particularly in Quebec, as many immigrants are choosing to learn English over French. In the long term, this may be more beneficial to them, especially for those who wish to later travel through Canada or North America. However, Quebec is finding that the percentages of French speaking people are decreasing substantially.
In 1989, the number of French speaking workplaces in Montreal was 85 percent, and in 2010 it was recorded that the number has dropped to 80 percent. That is a significant decrease in just eleven years, and the reasoning behind it mostly lays onto the immigrants. When immigrating to Quebec, the option is given to learn English or French. Learning English can seem to be a very compelling choice; English is the most common language used among foreign speakers. …show more content…
Particularly in a workplace settings, many Quebec residents have stated that “we simply cannot ignore our English customers.” While English was supposed to be use solely when it is a necessity, many tourists and non-French speaking individuals travel through Quebec, particularly through Montreal. They feel that it is unfair to instate a law that prohibits use of the English language, seeing as it is still recognized as one of the languages of