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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 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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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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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