by Elizabeth MacDougall
In the past few decades, increasing linguistic inclusivity and diversity has not been made a priority by the Québec government. On the contrary, the narrative has been overwhelmed with issues regarding the rapid decline of the French language in Québec and the need to repress, correct, or prevent the use of other languages in public life. In a recent video published by the current Québec premier, François Legault, issues regarding the future of Québec are addressed with great optimism and confidence:
« On doit aussi préserver notre fierté et notre cohésion nationale. On va le faire en continuant de protéger notre langue, notre culture, nos valeurs. La fierté, c’est ça notre moteur. C’est ça qui va nous pousser à toujours aller plus loin en tant que nation»
While watching this excerpt, you can either see yourself as an integral part of the “nous”, or on the contrary, as part of “les autres”. As bilinguals or multilinguals watch this video, the premier’s messages may not resonate with their linguistic and cultural identities. Instead, they may see this as another effort in distinguishing who is a “real” Québécois, someone part of the “nous”, and who simply isn’t. The we vs. they ideology is well represented in this video as the premier discusses the future of Québec for the “real Québécois”, and does not acknowledge nor recognize the presence of linguistic and cultural plurality in this nation.
Growing up in a rural francophone area in Québec, I heard, saw, and felt the very real linguistic tensions between the French language and other languages. From “en français, s’il vous plaît” or “messemble que c’est pas compliqué apprendre le français, c’est un manque de respect! », to long silences and stares from other Québécois French speakers, many multilinguals have been made to feel lesser than and de trop in Québec. It is no secret that multilinguals using languages other than French in public spaces are “welcomed” with heavy historical, cultural, and social baggage. This rigidity may make it difficult for individuals speaking diverse languages to forge their evolving language and cultural identities and develop a sense of belonging to Québec.
Without the French language, are you allowed to feel Québécois? Are you seen as part of the community, or will you always be a stranger to this exclusive language club? Some have lived in Québec for the majority of their lives, and never feel like they can say: “I am Québécois(e).” What does this mean? If you speak French with a Québécois accent, you are accepted as a valid member of the Québec language community, without questioning. If you speak French without the Québécois accent or if you are in the process of learning the French language as an additional language, your sense of belonging to and overall acceptance in the Québécois language community may be different. An acquaintance once told me an anecdote about her language experiences as a multilingual and her sense of belonging towards language communities. She had lived in Italy for one year and was instantly praised for her Italian language proficiency. She felt welcomed to see herself as a legitimate speaker of the language and part of the language community. She mentioned that although she had been living in Québec for many years now, and is a speaker of the French language, she is not perceived as a proficient speaker of the language in Québec, and thus is far from seeing herself as Québécoise. Outside Québec, her French language proficiency was perceived as excellent as she was offered professional advancement opportunities. Inside Québec, her French was perceived as mediocre at best, as she was explicitly told what her limitations were professionally. The French language, being an additional language in her existing repertoire, was seen as not enough in Québec.
Language is an undeniable richness that is deeply connected to and inseparable from culture. Although I do agree that issues related to the maintenance of the French language in Québec are important, I deeply feel for and am concerned with the increase in interest and desire to avoid and repress the use of other languages. Many restrictive policies from the government, such as Bill 21 and Bill 96, indicate a considerable desire for cultural and linguistic homogeneity. Hence, Québec residents from diverse linguistic, cultural, and religious backgrounds may feel like they don’t belong to this supposed vivre-ensemble in Québec and never will, if this in-group, out-group ideology continues. The othering process that is perpetuated through discourse, government policies, and other mediums requires close monitoring from Québec society, and a deep understanding of what it entails to deliberately label people as part of the “us” or “them”. Without this understanding and genuine consideration of the portrayal of the “other”, it is difficult, almost impossible, to raise awareness and shift to a more inclusive linguistic, social, and cultural model. Although I love the French language, and feel very much at home using familiar expressions and listening to songs that have woven the tapestry of Québec culture, I wish that Québec would embrace, value, and celebrate linguistic diversity and inclusivity. Everyone should have access to la Francophonie and have the possibility to connect with Québec culture, while preserving their bilingual/multilingual identities. The plurality of cultures and languages in Québec should be celebrated as an integral part of what it means to be Québécois.
Je souhaite que le Québec soit plus inclusif et accueillant envers la pluralité linguistique, culturelle et ethnique. De plus, et surtout, je souhaite que le Québec soit prêt à redéfinir ce fameux « nous » qui décrit les Québécois afin que toutes et tous puissent s’y reconnaitre et puissent, si elles ou s’ils le veulent, fièrement ajouter l’identité québécoise à leur répertoire culturel et linguistique actuel.
References
Abbink, K. & Harris, D. (2019). In-group favouritism and out-group discrimination in naturally occurring groups. PLOS ONE, 14(9), 1-13.
Banerjee, S. (2021, October 1). Quebec’s overhaul of its strict French language law under microscope at Bill 96 hearings. Global News. https://globalnews.ca/news/8235805/quebec-french-language-law-bill-96-hearings/
Bonan, C. & Taras, T. (2021, July 2). Bill 21: Targeting Racial and Religious Minorities in Canada. Marl. http://www.marl.mb.ca/articles/244-bill-21-targeting-racial-and-religious-minorities-in-canada
Centrale des syndicats du Québec. (2007). Définir les balises du vivre ensemble au Québec. https://www.bibliotheque.assnat.qc.ca/DepotNumerique_v2/AffichageFichier.aspx?idf=65080
Gouvernement du Canada. (2021). Le Canada et la Francophonie. https://www.international.gc.ca/world-monde/international_relations-relations_internationales/francophonie/index.aspx?lang=fra
McLeod, S. A. (2019, October 24). Social identity theory. Simply Psychology. https://www.simplypsychology.org/social-identity-theory.html
Neidik, A.J. (1992). Between the Solitudes [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQIncACiMLE
Richer, J. (2021, March 30). Two OQLF studies show French declining in Quebec. Montreal Gazette. https://montrealgazette.com/news/local-news/two-oqlf-studies-show-french-declining-in-quebec
Nobody here is writing bad 