Quebec government, specifically. Other provinces only require government services to be provided in both French and English but private businesses can mostly do what they want. Quebec requires private business to be conducted in French unless the customer requests service in a different language. Any non-French text or speech made to a customer before they request it can be seen as a violation. They can be a little overzealous at times.
There are certainly stories of overzealous enforcement, but the context of Loi 101 and its amendments is worth considering.
Québecois is really interesting. It has a lot of old, outdated French in it due to the colonial connection with France being severed hundreds of years ago, where it evolved distinctly and the locals made different decisions on what to change and how to adapt to new concepts.
One could argue the French government has been obsessive about policing language much longer with the académie française.
The government eventually said exotic dishes with no French name are allowed as an exception. Looking up menus of Indian places in Montreal shows they have completely Indian names for many of their dishes.
I’m not sure if this is supposed to be a joke or something, but yes. More than 90% of the people in Quebec speak French. More than 50% speak English, but for most it’s a second language.
The Canadian government is pretty weird about that aren’t they?
Quebec government, specifically. Other provinces only require government services to be provided in both French and English but private businesses can mostly do what they want. Quebec requires private business to be conducted in French unless the customer requests service in a different language. Any non-French text or speech made to a customer before they request it can be seen as a violation. They can be a little overzealous at times.
Damn, I’ve heard jokes about quebecios being snobby with their French but that seems excessive.
Which makes it all the more hilarious that the French people I know have joked about Quebec speaking “garbage French”
There are certainly stories of overzealous enforcement, but the context of Loi 101 and its amendments is worth considering.
Québecois is really interesting. It has a lot of old, outdated French in it due to the colonial connection with France being severed hundreds of years ago, where it evolved distinctly and the locals made different decisions on what to change and how to adapt to new concepts.
One could argue the French government has been obsessive about policing language much longer with the académie française.
It’s not snobby. From an anglo perspective, here’s how it plays out in reality:
WAITER: Qu’est-ce que vous voudrais? ME: Huh? WAITER: What would you like? ME: {proceeds to order}
…And life goes on.
I mean that’s fine, but the fact that it’s required under penalty of law is absolutely excessive
What’s the menu like for Indian restaurants in Quebec? Are there French names for Biryani, Paratha, Paneer etc?
The government eventually said exotic dishes with no French name are allowed as an exception. Looking up menus of Indian places in Montreal shows they have completely Indian names for many of their dishes.
At a certain point I have to assume they just slap a bunch of "le"s on and call it a day
Nope. The Canadian government just sighs and wishes Quebec wouldn’t be such a problem.
French is the dominant language in Quebec?
I’m not sure if this is supposed to be a joke or something, but yes. More than 90% of the people in Quebec speak French. More than 50% speak English, but for most it’s a second language.