OQLF report: French language on the decline in Quebec

“I think it depends on the area," says one Montrealer about a new OQLF report that shows the use of French is declining among Quebecers aged 18 to 34. Swidda Rassy reports.

[@timmymiron2727]

The French language has been in decline for over a decade

[@khiemtran7226]

century?

[@TBA-zv9qt]

And Punjabi Indian language on the rise😂😂😂😂

[@saxonthegermanshepherd2809]

Arabic for Quebec

[@joshdu9278]

@@saxonthegermanshepherd2809 The majority of immigration in Quebec are French people from French but you don't realize it because they're white.

[@mattybrunolucaszeneresalas9072]

All languages are

[@redman958]

Walking the streets of Toronto I'd say English is on the decline too.

[@mattybrunolucaszeneresalas9072]

Hilarious

[@Filledesbois-ds7hn]

They will finally understand how french speaking people feel

[@Andre-vr1ul]

Obviously, from a ratio perspective, any increase in non-french speaking people (via mass immigration), will result in a decrease of the native french speakjng people. The number of people that speak french may remain the same but their share of the demographic pie will be lessened. Perhaps they should dial back the importation of millions of foreigners (who can barely speak english too btw)?

[@TheDavidlloydjones]

No, Andre. Canada selects its immigrants, and one of the rules of selection is that there's a French quota that has to be met. The proportion proceeds, straight sideways. You're missing that one small point. Back in the days of Jean Lesage and the Quiet Revolution, there was an absolute rule cemented into every stage of every immigration policy: immigrants had to come from French backgrounds in proportion to the French Fact on the ground here in Canada. There was a small glitch with this: there wasn't any overwhelming desire for the French in France to rush to the planes and boats to get to the then poorer Canada. Fortunately, French imperial policy over the last five hundred years or so has arranged for there to be adequate numbers of eager French-speaking, indeed French citizenship bearing, peoples across Africa, Asia, and Latin America. That's why we've had the very fine Michaëlle Jean, our upstanding and talented Governor-General, for instance. Haitians speak French, remember?

[@Andre-vr1ul]

@@TheDavidlloydjones Haitians speak some dumbed down Creole, if I'm not mistaken but anyhow. Also replacing your population (European French), with Creole speaking West-Africans results in the same outcome. Michelle Jean is not fine, either. I also seem to recall recently that Quebec wanted to set its own immigration policy but the feds won't allow it. This still all boils down to mass immigration.

[@DELIRORAMA]

​@@TheDavidlloydjonesthe very fine Michaëlle Jean ...😅🤣🥴 Are you kidding me?

[@stickcheck3045]

@@TheDavidlloydjones On this side of the ocean, almost EVERYONE speaks English! In fact, it is difficult to do business without it! Try writing a letter to any one of the governors in the U.S. or even politicians or business people in any other province in Canada and see what kind of response you'll get. Almost guaranteed that any reply returned will be in English. Maybe the French should just get used to it!

[@MrBetc]

Oh gosh, I really hope not. Gotta keep as much of ones heritage as one can❤

[@sharonperry5213]

One has to acquire a language. Learning is too slow through education. Education system is only for money.

[@LuisGonzalez-px4sj]

It’s weird that in Montreal it’s declining however in Louisiana French is on the rise.

[@Ghecco09]

It's because it's not forced on the people

[@TheOsmanly]

English is a very powerful rich Germanic language that originated from Sax in Germany 1000 years ago then it was developped beautifully .But French we use it in littreature and poetry and i confess i must read a lot of Novells to reach that academic level in French .

[@croatianwarmaster7872]

English is a mutt, you lost a lot of old good germanic words and replaced them with french and latin.

[@sharonperry5213]

English is 70 percent French . Subjected to Norman French 1066. Study the similarities please.

[@juliusmure8795]

English language came from French language! 😂😂😂😂

[@nicolasg.514]

@@sharonperry5213 Fausse nouvelle !!! L'anglais n'a pas 70 % de français. Va t'instruire

[@olelain]

ok .... let's check the etymology of the words in your comment : "very" from french , "powerful" from latin, "germanic" from latin, "language" from french, "originated" from french, "developped" from french, "beautifully" from french, "use" from french, "litterature" from french, "poetry" from french, "confess" from french, "novels" from french, "academic" from latin, "level" from french... "French" from old english...

[@faisalabdulrazzaq8570]

Who cares????

[@Filledesbois-ds7hn]

Ignorant

[@KRajah-lg6ix]

Why does French exist in Canada to begin with? Didn’t Wolfe beat Montcalm? Doesn’t that settle it?

[@nicolasg.514]

Arrête de pleurnicher

[@AR-rb8jr]

Maybe you French people should stop whining about everything @@nicolasg.514

[@PhilippeDuf]

I think it is easier for small poeple to say that to french poeple than having to courage to say the same thing to native nations. It is the same logic.

[@BN-ts3oy]

@@nicolasg.514 James Wolfe defeated Louis-Joseph de Montcalm during the Battle of the Plains of Abraham in 1759, a pivotal event in the Seven Years' War. Wolfe's forces, after a difficult ascent up the cliffs near Quebec City, engaged Montcalm's French troops in a brief but decisive battle. The British strategy of forming a thin line and delivering disciplined volleys overwhelmed the French forces, leading to their retreat and the eventual surrender of Quebec.

[@MarkEliasGrant]

Le Québec est une société francophone. Les écoles d'enseignement en anglais devraient être interdites au Québec. J'espère que ce sera la prochaine étape.

[@Ahgsb456]

Forget about decline, how about fixing quebecers from speaking broken French

[@Kingofspaids]

That's a very ignorant take, they speak real french

[@Kingofspaids]

@ClarkGreaseball I'm from British Columbia, but I don't think that is relevant. You say French canadians use a lot of English in their vocabulary, but don't recognize the French use more anglicizzazions in their words such as "Shopping" or "weekend" which don't exist in French Canada.

[@Kingofspaids]

@ClarkGreaseball You also say they aren't protecting their language yet compared to France. Stop signs and store fronts must be in French, in parts of French Canada such as Quebec. French Canadian dialects are much older than Parisian french.

[@enchantedadventuresthrough3065]

@@Kingofspaids Paris was founded in the 3rd century BC Quebec was founded on July 3, 1608 Paris is much older than Quebec.

[@franghan]

@@enchantedadventuresthrough3065 Whats the point of this? Did french exist in the 3rd century BC you nonce?

[@kialljacobs8331]

Not surprising nobody really cares about Quebec in the west of Canada anyway Alot of us speak French, Spanish, Russian, Irish Gaelic and Scottish Gealic and of course English so alot of us here are not worried. I haven't been back in Quebec in like 10 years I speak it ok for now, half my family that live there never leave Quebec and don't even know where Calgary or Vancouver is so they in there own little country over there. They wanna keep the French alive go visit France 🇫🇷 more

[@Rhdlm-yo1tv]

It’s is a sovereign state within Canada

[@cleazy______5624]

@@Rhdlm-yo1tv pretty mcuh

[@sexygeek8996]

@@Rhdlm-yo1tv It's more like a parasite living in Canada, taking all the benefits but contributing almost nothing.

[@sexygeek8996]

@@Rhdlm-yo1tv Quebec is just one of ten provinces. They talk like they are a separate country, but only when it suits their desires. When it comes to accepting handouts such as equalization payments, they are happy to just be a province.

[@garettdoornwaard4822]

​@@Rhdlm-yo1tvnope. A small group WANT it to be...but it is not.

[@danmarijanovic2099]

CAQa is failing.

[@RustyPryde]

Open discrimination over language, tax payers denied social services over language, a premiere that refers to "other" languages as viruses, infections, and a danger to his people. Quebec has regressed immensely under the current government.

[@jewelv]

You can speak whatever language you want at home and in the street, but in a shop or other service people should be served in French and English.

[@MarkEliasGrant]

FRENCH. NOT ENGLISH.

[@stickcheck3045]

@@MarkEliasGrant In that case, go find your business somewhere else.

[@osimeon00]

No. French only.

[@stickcheck3045]

@@osimeon00 Then move to France because ALL of North America is English and you'll find all the French you want in France without shoving it down peoples' throats!

[@MarkEliasGrant]

If you wish to be served in Quebec FRENCH FIRST. If you live in Quebec life will be very hard for you if your refuse to learn French. It should be harder and harder yet to prevent the malignant spread of English.

[@orobleh77]

No legislation can help French language in Quebec. History has shown that it doesn’t work.

[@edgarpoe5243]

So why do more than 10 countries speak fu(k1ng russian?

[@MarkEliasGrant]

Le Québec est une société francophone. Les écoles d'enseignement en anglais devraient être interdites au Québec. J'espère que ce sera la prochaine étape.

[@MarkEliasGrant]

If you want English you will face pressure at every turn, and thank God for that. I hope they ban all English language instruction schools next.

[@RPicard1963]

Get rid of the OQLF. Let people speak the language of their choice.

[@osimeon00]

No. Quebec must remain French!

[@jtruong416]

Good get rid of that annoying language . Make canada simple. English!

[@Filledesbois-ds7hn]

C'est pas à toi que mon message s'adresse désolée pour la confusion

[@AB_123_AB]

It's not even proper French. It's some kind of disgusting red neck version of French. Disgusting.

[@user58541]

Youre of Asian descent. You don't belong in Canada.

[@SamuelValerie-c9e]

Josefa Forest

[@lux_oriens]

Les Québécois doivent parler français en public, et non un mélange d'anglais et de français.

[@tem_vremenem_v_kanade]

1:20 est pour toi

[@stickcheck3045]

Les Quebecois doivent avoir le droit de parler n'importe quelle langues qu'ils veulent parler!

[@MarkEliasGrant]

Le Québec est une société francophone. Les écoles d'enseignement en anglais devraient être interdites au Québec. J'espère que ce sera la prochaine étape.

[@stickcheck3045]

@@MarkEliasGrant Quebec is a CANADIAN society and Canada, as well as the rest of North America is an ENGLISH -speaking society. Therefore, French schools should be banned in Quebec and I hope THAT will be the next step and it should be! We don't want or need another Russia/Ukraine situation here. If you're that insistent on it, you really should migrate back to France!

[@blakestevenson813]

Why? What's the benefit of learning a dying language?

[@steveswhirld]

oh oh the language po po gonna put em all in jail 🤣🤣🤣

[@nicolasg.514]

Toujours sans arguments le maraud

[@steveswhirld]

@@nicolasg.514 foff

[@nicolasg.514]

@@steveswhirld Apprend à écrire 🤣

[@steveswhirld]

@@nicolasg.514 🤣

[@nicolasg.514]

@@steveswhirld Merci de prouver mon point le perdant

[@MTVoperator]

Big deal!!!

[@BN-ts3oy]

Already 300 billion dollars in debt, not a good use of money, Quebec. Maybe they should just have their own central bank, become its own country, relinquish Montreal and separate from Canada, that would be a lot cheaper, for Canada and more productive for the two "nations".

[@CrisCDXX]

Can someone please justify why it's so important to preserve a dying language that only the nationalist, xenophobic, descendent of colonialist québécoise want to preserve? When the Roman Empire fell and disappeared, so did the Latin language, as it should have. Why should I, a first generation Canadian born in Montreal QC Canada, descendent of Chilean political refugees, should care about a language that no one in my immediate family uses at their respective homes, and that has been an oppressive language that has harnessed only contempt, racism and anger towards me and my family? Let's not forget, Jaques Parizeau blamed the "etnic vote" when they lost the last referendum in 1995. Why should I care for people who think like that? Montreal is not Quebec. Montreal is multicultural. Montreal is bilingual, Montreal is no longer a hub for Quebecois nationalism and thinly veiled racism and xenophobia anymore. You lost in 95! Get over it! Cope! Good riddance.

[@Cellulosaurus]

Montréal is francophone. Ne t'en déplaise, méprisant personnage.

[@franghan]

Are you comparing Québec to Rome? Also Latin didnt "die", it morphed into different languages. Like Spanish for example. I guess only your culture is important. Why sould languages die? Are you saying we should also let native languages die? The Iroquois lost their war, should we do nothing to preserve their cultural heritage? Same with native language and culture in South America. I guess youre importing the values of your own country to Canada though. After all, Chile is really protecting the Mapûche language, eh?

[@nicolasg.514]

@@CrisCDXX Fais-toi à l'idée Karen, le Québec est une province francophone. Avant de traiter les autres de raciste, commence par te regarder dans le miroir avant de parler.

[@watchdog5678]

If Quebec and France can ban English. In France English is banned in schools. In Quebec English sfigns banned, so in all other provinces the Quebec Canada can ban French language and should ban French language hard enough to learn English let alone 2 languages. Quebec's has to stop forcing the French language on canadains who are not French and don't live in Quebec.

[@juliusmure8795]

English speakers speak only English... 😂😂😂 Ils ne sont pas capables de parler une autre langue.

[@grayhunterx352]

The rest of canada can ban french if they want it wouldn't change a single thing, they don't speak it.

[@blakestevenson813]

​@@juliusmure8795what's the benefit of learning a dying language?

[@juliusmure8795]

@@blakestevenson813 🤣🤣🤣 Que vous arrêtiez de faire l'idiot !

[@blakestevenson813]

@@juliusmure8795 again I'll ask what's the benefit? Or why does it matter?

[@moniho6907]

English is too powerful for french to compete with it

[@TheOsmanly]

I was french teacher for over 13 years even if i was never a teacher here in Qc . I love this great language but I need to review the Grammars and syntaxes .It is a shame to see French in decline here in North America .

[@charlesward9486]

Que the whining about the imminent death of their culture!

[@rivensleyanelas4890]

I'd their culture die Canada won't have any major distinction with the USA since they're almost the same now

[@sharonperry5213]

We are all the same despite the different languages. French nor english are not declining here in Quebec

[@nicolasg.514]

Fausse nouvelle

[@sharonperry5213]

Bilingualism is the way it is. That's progress.

[@juliusmure8795]

Les anglophones ne veulent pas être bilingues, ils ne sont même pas capables de parler une autre langue ! Which progress??? 😂

[@sexygeek8996]

If we want to learn another language, there are many better choices than French.

[@nicolasg.514]

Es-tu bilingue ? Tu as fait beaucoup de commentaires haineux envers les francophones...

[@sexygeek8996]

If you want to learn another language there are many better choices than French.

[@nicolasg.514]

​@@sexygeek8996 Pas au Québec Karen, le français est la langue officielle du Québec donc c'est la langue la plus utile à apprendre pour vivre au Québec. Fais-toi à l'idée

[@coolpillow3205]

Isn't this like Israel investigating it's own war crimes?

[@franghan]

Exactly the same. Plese share more pearls of wisdom to the rest of the world. We need your intellectual prowess. Save us O wise one.

[@coolpillow3205]

@@franghan u are replying to a 3 week old post, really???

[@sharonperry5213]

English is 70 percent French. . Thats it . Progress

[@nicolasg.514]

Complètement faux...

[@sharonperry5213]

Watchdog will show anything to use as a showing. .. colonialism on the move.

[@nicolasg.514]

Fausse nouvelle.... Va t'instruire, non à l'ignorance!!!

[@sharonperry5213]

Translate button

[@nicolasg.514]

@@sharonperry5213 Vive le Québec français et libre !!! Abolissont la monarchie.

[@williamterrymasters1934]

Young people think they have power and control over this world and there is no GOD a Spirit 😂

[@TheOsmanly]

very true brother very true very well said.

[@williamterrymasters1934]

@@TheOsmanly Who is the One who has power and control over this world a Spirit not people or man?

[@grannygrammar6436]

@@williamterrymasters1934 Freeble the Snorkly. Thank you for asking.

[@williamterrymasters1934]

@@grannygrammar6436 Who said I was asking for anything?

[@sharonperry5213]

We are a bilangual province. Always will be. English is 60 percent French from French language. Bilangual languages here in Quebec.

[@nicolasg.514]

Fausse nouvelle... La province de Québec n'est pas bilingue. La langue officielle du Québec est le français La langue anglaise n'a pas 60% de mots français. Va t'instruire, non à l'ignorance !!!

[@stickcheck3045]

Maybe the French should be forced to learn to speak Iroquois since the Iroquois were originally in Quebec long before the French ever were. After all, like the French, something should be done to protect the Iroquois language and culture, right?

[@BN-ts3oy]

Indeed they should. That's why Legault making sure to scrap Aboriginal's in their Museums and tell only of the Quebec Nation. He wants to erase history because he is in denial and very insecure. He thinks about these things instead of the bigger things and then makes comparison with Louisiana, to try to sound like a big man.

[@MarkEliasGrant]

You're right that they were here long before the French. Indigenous languages absolutely deserve protection and revitalization, just like any other culture that's at risk of being lost. But supporting French as the official language of Quebec isn't about ignoring that-it’s about protecting a language and culture that's been central to Quebec for centuries. French is under constant pressure from English in North America, so making it official helps preserve that identity. But yes, we should also support efforts to keep Indigenous languages like Iroquois alive.

[@Filledesbois-ds7hn]

@@stickcheck3045 Do you speak any native language ?

[@stickcheck3045]

@@Filledesbois-ds7hn I am half French, and part Iroquois, British American and Dutch, but the language I speak doesn't matter to me. I prefer English if I have to explain something important so that I am not misunderstood such as in medical or government situations as English is actually my first language, but otherwise, I have French friends with whom I don't mind speaking French and I don't mind speaking French in a store situation if I know that my French vocabulary is good enough to explain what I need or what I am looking for. I have French friends and I have English friends because I can speak both languages. I'd be minus a lot of friends if I could not speak one or the other. Still...it is and it should be my choice to speak and try to communicate with someone in the language I prefer if possible and if I know that the other person can communicate with me in either language that I am capable of speaking. Sometimes, even when I'm in a store, I will ask the other person "How do you say this or that in French". That's how you REALLY learn the language and how you keep it friendly....not by trying to force it on someone. What is important is communication....not language!

[@Filledesbois-ds7hn]

​@@stickcheck3045Interesting.From which tribe? Which Iroquian language do you speak ?

[@lkampmann]

Revoke all counterproductive laws and encourage bilingualism - government can’t dictate people’s choices

[@user-buck-b7j]

You pay for it,id rather see the 3 5 billion budget paying down the national debt

[@MarkEliasGrant]

Why? Quebec is a French speaking province.

[@stickcheck3045]

@@MarkEliasGrant Obviously, Quebec is NOT a French speaking province!

[@MarkEliasGrant]

@@stickcheck3045 However, it IS. If you don't like that please do not choose to live in Quebec. Simple.

[@BN-ts3oy]

@@MarkEliasGrant In North America we speak both English and French, you don't like it, you go to France.

[@user-buck-b7j]

Can we stop wasting 3.5 billion per year on this dead language now? I'd like to learn klingon but i dont think the tax payers should have to pay for it.

[@nicolasg.514]

Fausse nouvelle Karen

[@MarkEliasGrant]

No. Quebec is a French speaking province. If you don't like it, leave. French must be protected because it is in a sea of English. All education - other than foreign language courses - should be, by law, exclusively in French for all educational levels. There should be NO English speaking schools in Quebec. Immigrants to Quebec should exclusively be from Francophone countries.

[@TheAntReport]

@@MarkEliasGrantpeople have the right to speak whichever language they chose, if you don’t like it then move to France.

[@MarkEliasGrant]

@@TheAntReport Quebec is a French speaking province. English as a foreign language is welcome, but as a language of instruction English should be banned. It's quite silly that Quebec even permits any Anglophone schools to operate.

[@MarkEliasGrant]

@@TheAntReport You have a right to speak whatever language you want. You do NOT have a right to education in any language you want paid for by tax dollars. You do not have a right to government services paid for by tax dollars in English only. You do not have a right to run a business only in English in a French speaking society: all Quebecois have a right to goods and services in their language: FRENCH, THE LANGUAGE OF QUEBEC.

[@liberatetutemeexinferis5902]

Big deal.

[@scottgordon5246]

Can't stop, won't stop speaking English.

[@Filledesbois-ds7hn]

Of course you are unable to learn a new language. They should force you to speak a native language

[@SweetCandy-x4j]

600 million dollars to promote French??? Couldn’t that money be used for better things?