Transcript Bilingualism and Language Policy in Canada

Bilingualism and Language
Policy in Canada
Natascha Merwar GS/LN
Verena Nogaj HS/LN
Katja Faber HS /LN
Contents






Introduction
Royal Commission on Bilingualism &
Biculturalism
Implementing a more comprehensive
Language Policy
Official Languages Act of 1969
Official Languages Act of 1988
Conclusion
2
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
3
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
4
Introduction

Situation in Canada:
-> Canada is a predominantly English
speaking country
-> Asymmetry of language abilities
existing between English/anglophone
and French/francophone:
1. Quantitative Asymmetry
2. Qualitative Asymmetry
5
Introduction


French and English territories are
separate and their territorilisation is
increasing
„Quebec as a French island in an ocean
of English“
6
Introduction
7
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
8
Introduction

Advantages

Communicative advantages

Cutural advantages

Cognitive advantages
9
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
10
Royal Commission on Bilingualism
& Biculturalism


Also known as the Laurendeau- Dunton
Commission
Consisted of 10 commissioners:
- five French speaking members
- five English speaking members
11
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
12
Royal Commission on Bilingualism
& Biculturalism

recommendations on:
a)
b)
c)


the situation and practice of bilingualism
the promoting of bilingualism by public and private
organisations
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)
13
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.)
14
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.
15
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)
Reforms
1.
to aid official language minority schools
2.
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
16
diversity in Canada
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
17
Official Languages Act of 1969

New Brunswick enacts
its first official
languages act making it
Canada‘s first and only
official bilingual
province
18
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
19
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
20
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
21
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
22
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
23
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
24
Conclusion
25
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/blm
s/6-3-2g.pdf
http://www.marianopolis.edu/quebechistory/readings/lesage.ht
m
http://www.canadianheritage.gc.ca/progs/lo-ol/biling/hist_e.cfm
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/mapshells/north_america/canada/
canada.htm
26
Thank you for your attention!
27