Languages

[Paidion]

I wish I could say that Canadians are bilingual (after all they live in an officially bilingual country), but in fact only 35% of Canadians can speak more than one language. But worse only 17.4% of Canadians can speak both official languages, and more than half of these reside in the province of Quebec.

In Quebec, 95% of its residents speak French and only 40.6% know how to speak English.
In some places in Quebec, even those who know how to speak English refuse to do so.

I am aware of only two truly bilingual cities in Canada --- Ottawa, Ontario and just across the river --- Hull, Quebec. In those two cites, when you approach a proprietor or an official of any kind, you are always greeted in both English and French, so that you are given the choice of language in which to converse.

Once at a border crossing, my nephew was asked in which of the two official languages he wished to converse. He answered, "Je veux à parler en Anglais." For a moment, this response totally confused the officer.

I, myself, have studied French from grade 9 through grade 13, a full five years, and still can't carry on a conversation in French.

[Suzana]

In some places in Quebec, even those who know how to speak English refuse to do so.

I wonder if that is a cultural thing carried over from France; I've heard that Parisians are not very tolerant of people who can't speak French, even if they are foreign tourists! Of course I don't know how true or prevalent this may be.

I don't think I could carry on a conversation in French now either, unless it was very simple. I guess one has to be immersed in a language to learn it properly - be constantly exposed to it through study or live somewhere it's used every day.

[thomas]

In some places in Quebec, even those who know how to speak English refuse to do so.

Thats very common , in fact I've sent my daughter to English classes for over a year and she refuses to practice it with me.

[I wonder if that is a cultural thing carried over from France; I've heard that Parisians are not very tolerant of people who can't speak French, even if they are foreign tourists! Of course I don't know how true or prevalent this may be.

Wherever you go , and not just France , if you don't speak the language you are marked "to be taken advantage of". You will be especialy looked down on if you don't even try.

I guess one has to be immersed in a language to learn it properly - be constantly exposed to it through study or live somewhere it's used every day.

Very true, you have to have a need to use it daily. In my case I married someone who does'nt speak English. 22 years and she still does'nt , ¿que va?

[Paidion]

Here is a true story. A couple from France made a trip by boat to Québec. During the voyage, there were many Chinese people on the boat speaking Cantonese. When they arrived in Québec, they noticed a lot of people talking to each other. The wife looked alarmed. She turned to her husband and asked, "How come the people here in Québec are speaking Chinese, too?"