Is The Language Barrier a Problem in Quebec?
Apr 6th, 2001, 07:13 AM
#2
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In the city of Quebec, language is no problem around the restaurants and other tourist attractions. If you get out into the hinterlands, you may not find anyone who understands much English.<BR>In the National Parks, the wardens and the other staff members speak English.<BR><BR>We drove around the Gaspe Peninsula, spending two nights enroute. (We needed 3 actually because the road was slow and we stopped several times.) I had a bilingual friend make the motel reservations for me. On the south shore of the Gaspe there is a little more English spoken because several of the towns were originally settled by Loyalists.<BR>There was one funny incident when we wanted to buy some ice for our little ice chest. My phrase book had no words for ice cubes. I remembered that near the border with Vermont I had purchased a bag of ice and that it had labelling in both English and French. So I hastened out to the car, pulled that wet bag out, looked at the French language side of the bag and came up with the magic word Glace, with an accent mark on the e. I hastened back into the store and spoke my one word of French, and we got the ice. <BR><BR>
Apr 14th, 2001, 02:25 AM
#5
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I don't even speak school girl french except for 'merci' and I had no problems travelling through Quebec. Admittedly we stayed only in Montreal and Quebec city but still, everyone was very friendly and helpful. At the end of the day, a lot of these place exist on and for tourism and despite the official language of French, English is by far the most common language and the locals appreciate this. <BR>I know you will have a wonderful time. Don't stress, just enjoy. <BR> <BR>Anne in Australia
Apr 19th, 2001, 02:53 PM
#6
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Three of the four people who have already posted accurately describe the situation. I'm a French teacher who travels in Québec a lot, and I can tell you that wherever there are tourists, there is English, especially in the cities. It really is appreciated, however, if you at least start with words like Bonjour and Merci. A phrase book is always helpful because you can point to the English and the locals can point to the French. <BR> <BR>The tourism ministry has a pamphlet called Happy Motoring with signs, laws, and explanations that are helpful to anglophones. Signs can be a problem: once I was driving with someone who doesn't know French and I forgot to explain that all those "Pont Fermé" signs meant that the bridge was closed ahead. A small dictionary could help with this. <BR> <BR>Yes, don't stress. Smile, say S'il vous plaît (see voo play--please) a lot. The locals will adore you.
May 3rd, 2001, 04:49 PM
#7
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Hi Friends! <BR> <BR>Quebec City alone gets about 10 times its population in tourists from all over the world! <BR> <BR>Tourists come for the beauty, the charm of this unique city, the only city in North America declared part of the World Heritage by the UNESCO (United States)! <BR> <BR>The cradle of the French culture in North America where citizens from all cultures and languages are welcomed and respected. <BR> <BR>We appreciate the large contribution of the English, the Irish, the Scots, the Indians and the immigrants who came after the Wars. <BR> <BR>There is no feeling of racism here! <BR>Except from the mouth of extremists! <BR> <BR>Our school systems are French or English. <BR> <BR>The English-speaking citizens and their descendants have full education systems, from primary schools to university..reciprocity of this is not available to French-speaking citizens in other provinces of Canada! <BR> <BR>All English-speaking citizens have garantied full medical and hospital services in English..which is denied to French-speaking citizens in other provinces of Canada! <BR> <BR>Our courts speak English when citizens of English language are concerned...other provinces speak English only, no French! <BR> <BR>I consider that the anonymus comments of Devon ([email protected]) made above, to be blantly racist and contrary to the truth. <BR> <BR>Yes, we have such extremists, but most people in Quebec, of all origins, live happily and are respected fully, each citizen being equal with equal rights. <BR> <BR>Yes, Quebec is a nation composed of all its citizens, no matter their cultural origins. Every one is equal and protected in same manner. <BR> <BR>French is the official language of Quebec which is composed of more than 85% of its citizens of French culture. <BR> <BR>As a nation, Quebec has its own civil code, its own laws, its own history going back to the 1500. <BR> <BR>The English language gets a full respect in Quebec, while French has no place in the other provinces of Canada, a country discovered by my French ascentors who opened all parts of North America,in French! <BR> <BR>Devon, please speak the truth!
May 4th, 2001, 10:42 AM
#9
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Michel, <BR>Thanks for clearing some misconceptions that many non-Canadians (and possibly some Canadians) have about Quebec. It is truly a beautiful and charming part of Canada, and should not be missed. I personally spent 4 years of my life there, and enjoyed it very much. <BR> <BR>However, I do want to correct you on a few things. When you say the following: <BR>1. "The English-speaking citizens and their descendants have full education systems, from primary schools to university... reciprocity of this is not available to French-speaking citizens in other provinces of Canada!" <BR> <BR>2. "All English-speaking citizens have garantied full medical and hospital services in English..which is denied to French-speaking citizens in other provinces of Canada!" <BR> <BR>3."Our courts speak English when citizens of English language are concerned...other provinces speak English only, no French!", and <BR> <BR>4."The English language gets a full respect in Quebec, while French has no place in the other provinces of Canada" <BR> <BR>...I have to take exception to these. While Quebec is officially the only French-speaking province in Canada, New Brunswick is Canada's only officially bilingual province. In NB, citizens of French descent have full access to french schools from primary to University, french-speaking health and medical services, and french-speaking courts and legal services. <BR> <BR>I am only saying this because your implications that all of Canada, aside from Quebec, does not recognize, appreciate, and accomodate french society, culture and language is simply not true. <BR> <BR>To keep this post in line with the spirit of the thread, the language barrier is not a problem in most of Quebec. The people in Quebec are typically friendly people, and although they may appreciate an effort to converse in french, it is not a necessity. Learn a couple of french words and phrases that you may frequently use, and enjoy yourself in this beautiful part of Canada. <BR> <BR>Tim
May 18th, 2001, 08:11 PM
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I am sorry to see that Michel has been brainwashed by our politicians and French medias in Quebec...and probably never lived outside the province of Quebec. <BR> <BR>The truth is that there is a lot of French speaking people outside of Quebec and they can send their kids to French schools, have services in French in the Federal Governement offices and elsewhere. <BR> <BR>But you will find the greater number of French speaking people living in the Quebec Province. <BR> <BR>You should not have any problems finding your way and getting understood in the touristic areas. <BR> <BR>Montreal and the Eastern Township is very bilingual (Montreal is very multicultural) <BR> <BR>Most of the signs are international (stop signs are red and have the same shape but it's written "Arret" on it) <BR> <BR>Don't forget that Quebec is the only province that don't let you turn right on a red light!
May 20th, 2001, 01:34 PM
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I'll be traveling to Montreal for about the 10th time in my life at the end of the month. I have never had any problem with the language, but I try to open any conversation with the few French words I know. It is appreciated by the populace. I will be spending two weeks with my wife north of Quebec City this summer. I always enjoyed the people and places of Quebec. More Americans should travel to Quebec.
Mar 14th, 2012, 01:36 PM
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Micheal,
I am from Ontario. Are you telling me that the French schools I have attended since JK don't exist? Because that would be news to me. Are you telling me that the health services my grandparents used to use are fake? This would also be news to me. They're not as numerous as Québec but if you look, you will find that services in French can be acquired. You're the one spreading Québec propoganda. Language barriers happen everywhere for the French as well as English.
And, to be useful to travelers, I've been to Québec and it's a generally friendly place. Only problem I had was that I went during a very damp and rainy season.
I am from Ontario. Are you telling me that the French schools I have attended since JK don't exist? Because that would be news to me. Are you telling me that the health services my grandparents used to use are fake? This would also be news to me. They're not as numerous as Québec but if you look, you will find that services in French can be acquired. You're the one spreading Québec propoganda. Language barriers happen everywhere for the French as well as English.
And, to be useful to travelers, I've been to Québec and it's a generally friendly place. Only problem I had was that I went during a very damp and rainy season.
Mar 18th, 2012, 04:59 AM
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I had the same sentiment Franco and only upon reading traveller69's message did I realize as well how old this thread is....I was going to make a grand response also!
Hopefully, there have been some positive changes for Michel in the past 11 years!
Hopefully, there have been some positive changes for Michel in the past 11 years!
