Bilingualism and Language Policy in Canada Natascha Merwar GS/LN Verena Nogaj HS/LN Katja Faber HS /LN.

Bilingualism and Language Policy in Canada

Natascha Merwar GS/LNVerena Nogaj HS/LNKatja Faber HS /LN

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Contents

Introduction Royal Commission on Bilingualism &

Biculturalism Implementing a more comprehensive

Language Policy Official Languages Act of 1969 Official Languages Act of 1988 Conclusion

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Introduction Definition of Bilingualism:

The ability to speak two languages with nativelike competence. In every individual case one language will be dominant.

Bilingualism as one form of multilingualism

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Introduction Bilingualism in Canada (institutional

bilingualism): The ability to communicate in both of Canada‘s official languages, English and French.

-> is formalised in Language Policy

-> refers to the capacity of state institutions to operate in two languages

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Introduction Situation in Canada:

-> Canada is a predominantly English speaking country-> Asymmetry of language abilities existing between English/anglophone and French/francophone:

1. Quantitative Asymmetry2. Qualitative Asymmetry

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Introduction

French and English territories are separate and their territorilisation is increasing

„Quebec as a French island in an ocean of English“

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Introduction

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Introduction Why Institutional Bilingualism in

Canada? No language is exclusive Canadian

(exept certain Amerindian languages), so Canadians haven‘t got a native language

Bilingualism as a mean to show the importance of both languages

Bilingualism as an advantage for Canada‘s citizens

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Introduction

Advantages

Communicative advantages

Cutural advantages

Cognitive advantages

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Royal Commission on Bilingualism & Biculturalism

Quiet Revolution in Quebec (1960-1966)

- Period of...

...rapid social change ...modernisation of Quebec ...redefinition of the role of French

Canadians within Confederation

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Royal Commission on Bilingualism & Biculturalism

Also known as the Laurendeau- Dunton Commission

Consisted of 10 commissioners:

- five French speaking members - five English speaking members

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Royal Commission on Bilingualism & Biculturalism

Was asked to

- require into and report upon the existing state of

bilingualism and biculturalism in Canada

- recommend which steps to take to develop the Canadian

Confederation on the basis of an equal partnership

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Royal Commission on Bilingualism & Biculturalism recommendations on:

a) the situation and practice of bilingualism b) the promoting of bilingualism by public and

private organisations c) the opportunities to learn French and English and

“what could be done to enable Canadians to become bilingual“

1965: publication of Premium Report 1967-1970: publication of final report (consists

of six volumes)

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Royal Commission on Bilingualism & Biculturalism 9 per cent of federal positions designated as

bilingual in 1966

44 per cent were in the Ottawa-Hull capital area, 49 per cent were in Quebec outside the capital region

bilingual positions rose to 21 per cent in 1974 and to 29 per cent in 1995

(Edwards, John(1998):Language in Canada.Cambridge University Press:Cambridge.)

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Royal Commission on Bilingualism & Biculturalism

„Bilingualism units people; dualism divides them. Bilingualism means you can speak to the other; duality means you live in one language and the rest of Canada will live in another language!“

Pierre Elliott Trudeau, speaking to the Senat in Ottawa on March 20, 1988, as quoted in The Essential Trudeau, Ron Graham, ed.

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Implementing a more comprehensive Language Policy Implementation of language related reforms:

a) More extensive formal recognition of English and French as official languages of Canada

b) Restructuring of the public service and federal institutions

c) Reforms1. to aid official language minority schools2. to encourage study of the other official language

d) Promotion of French as the main language in Quebec‘s private sector

e) Elaboration of a cultural policy concerning growing cultural diversity in Canada

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Official Languages Act of 1969 three main objectives:

a) The equality of English & French in parliament within the government of Canada, the federal

administrations and institutions

b) The preservation and development of official language communities in Canada

c) The equality of English and French in Canadian society

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Official Languages Act of 1969 New Brunswick

enacts its first official languages act making it Canada‘s first and only official bilingual province

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Official Languages Act of 1969 three major components of policy in this

period:

- external service to the public in both official languages

- balanced participation of anglophones and francophones in the public service

- freedom of choice in the language of work

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Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms (1982) Bill of right Forms first part of Constitution

Act (1982) intended to protect political

and civil rights of people in Canada from the policies and actions of all levels of the government

Consists of 34 sections Sections 16-22: Official

Languages of Canada Section 23: Minority Language

Education Rights

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Official Languages Act of 1988

Is different from its predecessor:

- longer and more comprehensive- text has a noticably different quality- begins with a two–page preamble

1988 Act was primarily concerned with coordinating and managing official bilingualism

Most obvious general thrust is to develop a more powerful language legislation

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Official Languages Act of 1988

Main distinction between 1969 and 1988:

to guide government policy and pursue efforts to promote the official languages in Canadian society as a whole

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Conclusion

Support for bilingualism is mixed Strongest support can be found in

the so called Bilingual Belt both English and French are regularly

spoken extends from New Brunswick in the

east through Quebec, Eastern and Northern Ontario and Southern Manitoba

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Conclusion outside this belt in Quebec the

majority of population is francophone the rest of Canada, outside the belt, is

overwhelmingly anglophone these days there are supporters and

opponents of bilingualism in every part of Canada

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Conclusion

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References Edwards, John(1998):Language in Canada.Cambridge

University Press:Cambridge. Wardhaugh, Ronald(1987):Languages in

Competition.Basil Blackwell:Oxford. http://en.wikipedia.org http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com http://www.pch.gc.ca http://www.edu.gov.mb.ca/ks4/cur/socstud/

foundation_gr6/blms/6-3-2g.pdf http://www.marianopolis.edu/quebechistory/readings/

lesage.htm http://www.canadianheritage.gc.ca/progs/lo-ol/biling/

hist_e.cfm http://www.lonelyplanet.com/mapshells/north_america/

canada/canada.htm

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Thank you for your attention!