Re: Quebecois are a Nation. Since when?
 

I think the issue could go away in a generation or so. Quebec cuture and its language are dying out, or at least becoming more anglicised. I watch quite a lot of French language TV. The anglo influence in programmes is quite obvious.

The young are being anglicised very fast, through TV, the internet, films and music. Take the example of my stepson and his mates. He, and a few others are fully bilingual. Most speak at least some English. All the music I hear them listen to is anglo. The films they rent are anglo (they're DVDs but the kids still don't select the French dialogue). The Boy and his girlfriend speak to each other only in English, even though they are both francophone.

Quebec French has long been littered with borrowed English words and more are creeping in, often for no apparent reason. As an example, when talking about plugging in a power cable, my stepson will use "plugger" instead of the real French word "brancher". It's no easier or quicker to use the invented version.

I believe that French will eventually cease to be the majority language in Quebec, although it's likely to be quite some time before we see a visit from the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

Re: Quebecois are a Nation. Since when?
 

Interestingly, France is becoming must more anglophone too. On recent visits I've been surprised at just how much English I've heard, and you can't go on the metro without seeing someone learning English.

Of course, languages evolve as culture evolves and it's really hard to stop changes. Just as English borrowed lots of words from French and changed enormously, French is now borrowing from English, despite the best efforts of the Academie Française. Un Courriel anyone?

Re: Quebecois are a Nation. Since when?
 

C-elec, surely?

Re: Quebecois are a Nation. Since when?
 

Well if that's true, then it's a sad day. Don't get me wrong-- the whole language debate is bollocks at the best of times. I was told about the presenter of "Loft Story" was criticizing people at Dawson college for not speaking enough french (after the murder of the student there).. Apart from the fact she couldn't pronounce the anglicised word "Dawson" properly.

I was actually under the impression that the younger generation now speak LESS english because of the effect of 20 or so years of language laws! Maybe this is a secondary backlash?

Re: Quebecois are a Nation. Since when?
 

My ex co worker born & bred puritain Quebecois used to always say "Je va t'envoyer un email", it's only when I asked my mum that she told me the real word for email is courriel electronique but most people just say courriel.

Re: Quebecois are a Nation. Since when?
 

Making them a nation within a united Canada was the only way to keep Quebec part of Canada. Quebec has wanted to cecede for ages. I knew something like this would happen sooner or later!!

Re: Quebecois are a Nation. Since when?
 

I've never heard the expression "courriel electronique"... over here it's just plain courriel. Learn something new everyday.


Hang on... isn't courriel Courrier -électronique ???

Re: Quebecois are a Nation. Since when?
 

Of course.. I just suck at written French and have no fancy accents on my keyboard (cant be bothered with ASCII), well spotted! ;) :D

EDIT: Dont know if its Courrier instead of Couriel, I'm just typing what I thought I heard my mum pronounce *lol*

Re: Quebecois are a Nation. Since when?
 

i thought the welsh and scots were separate nations?? as is england. GB is a poliitcal state??

thats why when in the UK you have to be careful what you mean when you say "nationwide"

Re: Quebecois are a Nation. Since when?
 

Come to think of it you are probably correct. It is just that I have always thought of Great Britain or the United Kingdom rather than thinking of England, Wales, Scotland.

I consider myself British and not English.

Re: Quebecois are a Nation. Since when?
 

It is Couriel although most here simply say e-mail. Courrier would be what the mailman or courier delivers.

Re: Quebecois are a Nation. Since when?
 

Well there is some fallout from this zany notion that Quebecois are a nation.

please read this item

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNew...hub=TopStories

But Chong argued that such a motion "is nothing else but the recognition of ethnic nationalism, and that is something I cannot support. It cannot be interpreted as the recognition of a territorial nationalism, or it does not refer to the geographic entity, but to a group of people."

Gerard Kennedy, another of the front-runners, said Monday that he opposes the motion and finds it divisive to national unity and could advance the separatist agenda.

Re: Quebecois are a Nation. Since when?
 

The nation is the United Kingdom. This consists of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Great Britain is England, Scotland and Wales.

Scotland is the closest to a separate country. It has its own legal system and tax-raising parliament.

England and Wales have a single legal system, though Wales now has an "assembly" which has some devolved powers (but not tax-raising ones).

Northern Ireland has its own assembly, but it's not been reactivated yet. It used to be functioning before "the Troubles" but was suspended. Currently Northern Ireland is governed directly from London.

There is, of course, pressure for Scotland to separate and become wholly independent. Indeed, 60% of English people think Scotland should leave the Union.

My prediction? The UK is about to discover what Canadian separatist politics looks like.

K.

Re: Quebecois are a Nation. Since when?
 

I consider myself English and European, not British. :)

K.

Re: Quebecois are a Nation. Since when?
 

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2006/...dy-nation.html

ken dryden also takes a stand