Language laws chart
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York University *
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2000
Subject
Linguistics
Date
Dec 6, 2023
Type
docx
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2
Uploaded by SuperSkunk2951
Quebec’s Language Laws Study Sheet
Using information from the articles or your own research, fill in the chart below about Quebec’s
various language laws:
Key points
Bill
Year
Do you think the
legislation is a good
idea?
Parents can choose to send their
children to either French or English
language schools
Only French can be used on signs
outside commercial establishments
while English can be used inside
French becomes the language of
legislation and the courts,
administration, work and business, and
education
A non-Anglophone child enrolled at an
Anglophone private school for one year
is not allowed to transfer to a publicly
funded Anglophone school
French becomes Quebec’s official
language. Corporations have to take
French names and advertise mainly in
French. Enrolment in English schools is
restricted (students have to show they
understand English before they can be
admitted)
Students are allowed to transfer to
publicly funded English language
schools if they first attend three years at
a private English language school
French lettering has to be at least twice
as large as English lettering on
commercial signs
The following cases involve language-related complaints that were investigated by the Office
québécois de la langue française (OQLF), known by some as the “language police”, an
organization whose mandate is to protect the French language in Quebec. Do you think the
complaint was reasonable in each case?
1.
The restaurant Resto Mama Grilled Cheese in Quebec City is ordered not to use English
words “grilled cheese” and “enjoy.”
2.
The online store for Club Monaco, a clothing retailer, is in English only. Because this
doesn’t comply with Quebec’s language laws, the retailer decides to block customers’
access to the website.
3.
Brasserie Holder, an eatery located in Montreal's Old Port, is asked to
cover up print
on
a hot water tap that says “on/off”. When a first layer of opaque tape fails to cover up the
English words, owner Maurice Holder says he is told to add a second layer of tape.
4.
Mandy and Rebecca Wolfe, the sisters who own Mandy’s Salad Bar in a predominantly
English-speaking area of Montreal, are told to remove from their restaurant decorative
signs with English words like “Sweet Sisters”. The sisters say that will fight the ruling.
5.
The owner of a clothing store in Chelsea, Eva Cooper, is told to translate her store’s
Facebook page into French. Later she is told that posts advertising her business must
be in French but posts of a social nature can be in English.
6.
Two workers at a psychiatric hospital in Montreal are investigated and given a warning
for speaking Haitian Creole (a mixed language) to each other while at work. It is not
known whether they were having a private conversation (using a language other than
French is allowed) or a conversation pertaining to their work duties (only French can be
used).
7.
The popular yogurt chain Menchies, located in Montreal’s West Island, is investigated
because English phrases (like “This is my mix”) are imprinted on its plastic spoons. The
owner voluntarily pulls the spoons.
8.
Buonanotte, an upscale Italian restaurant in Montreal, is told to replace Italian words like
"
pasta
", "
antipasti
", and "
calamari
" in its menus with equivalent French language words.
After public ridicule, the language authority decides that foreign language words for
culinary items can remain on menus.
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