Is the French Language in Quebec in Danger of Extinction?
Faculty Mentor(s)
Dr. Isabelle Chapuis-Alvarez
Document Type
Poster
Event Date
4-12-2013
Abstract
In a world that depends more and more on the English language, French speaking citizens of Quebec make efforts to protect their native language with laws and changes to the official French language. Even if there are many differences between the French spoken in Quebec and the French spoken in France, those are on differences of different dialects, not entirely different languages. However, if the French language in the world in general isn’t in danger, the dialect spoke in Quebec is in danger of extinction. Since the Second World War, English speaking immigrants have surrounded the area of Quebec, making it increasingly more difficult for them to retain their French roots. Over the years, the Québécois have begun to create words in French to replace English sounding words, resulting in a dialect very different from the official French language spoken in hexagonal France. However, these efforts have not been completely effective in keeping the French language, even the Quebec dialect completely vibrant. As a result of this, Law 101 was passed to preserve the French language in Quebec in commerce, advertisements, and in official documents. It has been extremely controversial in Quebec and parts of it have been repealed since it was passed. As Quebec elects new officials, Law 101 is revisited time and again as Quebec tries to keep French the official language and the language taught in schools. Quebec is a French province in a largely English speaking country and though there are striking differences to the official French language, it is not an entirely different language. The French language is growing quickly in Africa, but in Quebec, it is in danger of becoming just a part of history
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