Bilingualism And The Export Of Quebec Culture

[Remiel]

After reading Bakunin's reply to Charles Anthony's topic on French/English dual identity, it occurred to me to ask whether the failure of the federal government to encourage the export of Quebec media to the rest of Canada is the reason why we have a pitiful number of English French speakers, outside of Quebec, despite nine years or more of instruction in the subject.

Perhaps this is more of a non-issue in the age of the internet and satellite, but back when Trudeau envisioned a biligual Canada, was there a complete failure to " biculturalize " in addition to " bilingualize " the country? Could the bilingual policy of been a success if they took into account it takes more than a few language lessons in a classroom to make people interested in learning and retaining a different language?

Has there ever been a CBC television program (let alone a whole channel) aimed at bridging the gap, and making it easier for children (or adults) to continue to learn outside of the classroom?

I had a similar idea about video and computer games once before. If we know that people are going to spend vast amounts of time on a particular kind of entertainment, then why not integrate entertainment and education to such a degree that they essentially become a single element?

[M.Dancer]

Les Boys

Plouffe Family....

[Leafless]

After reading Bakunin's reply to Charles Anthony's topic on French/English dual identity, it occurred to me to ask whether the failure of the federal government to encourage the export of Quebec media to the rest of Canada is the reason why we have a pitiful number of English French speakers, outside of Quebec, despite nine years or more of instruction in the subject.

Firstly, it is up to the Quebec government to promote the French language outside of Quebec. The federal government waded into this area originally with biculturalism and soon found out it discriminated badly and changed it to 'official multiculturalism' to accommodate the many complaints.

The federal government of course actively promotes for a bilingual Canada but still racially discriminates against all English speaking Canadians since there was never any official mandate from the citizens of Canada to do this. Even though French is an official language, the federal government has failed to equally promote other foreign languages in Canada since Canada is 'officially multicultural' and all languages should receive the same preference, since all Canadians are federal tax payers.

Perhaps this is more of a non-issue in the age of the internet and satellite, but back when Trudeau envisioned a biligual Canada, was there a complete failure to " biculturalize " in addition to " bilingualize " the country?

Don't you think Trudeau damged Canada enough with communist policies?

Could the bilingual policy of been a success if they took into account it takes more than a few language lessons in a classroom to make people interested in learning and retaining a different language?

Canada is not Europe and people usually learn languages for a purpose.

You cannot force people to learn a language for no other reason than to serve another (minority) cultures self interest.

Has there ever been a CBC television program (let alone a whole channel) aimed at bridging the gap, and making it easier for children (or adults) to continue to learn outside of the classroom?

So far all your ideas to propagate bilingualism has been through the use of Canadian tax payer funded initiatives applied in an undemocratic and discriminatory manner.

I had a similar idea about video and computer games once before. If we know that people are going to spend vast amounts of time on a particular kind of entertainment, then why not integrate entertainment and education to such a degree that they essentially become a single element?

Video games are a hard sell as it is.

Integrate it all you want but the added cost will only further discourage potential buyers.

[Remiel]

Don't you think Trudeau damged Canada enough with communist policies?

I think you should stick you your own threads, and stop polluting mine with your anti-Quebec propaganda.

[Leafless]

Don't you think Trudeau damged Canada enough with communist policies?

I think you should stick you your own threads, and stop polluting mine with your anti-Quebec propaganda.

Why is it perfectly okay for you to promote and support communist type ideologies and complain when someone who supports democratic initiatives, you label "anti-Quebec" which in reality is 'anti-social engineering'. Understand the difference.

I suggest if you want to promote communist ideologies 'blog it' somewhere in Cyberspace, rather than irritate good Canadians on this site, who believe in Canadian nationalism and a free and democratic Canada.

[Remiel]

Would that be the same free and democratic Canada that in 75% is favour of bilingualism?

[Leafless]

Would that be the same free and democratic Canada that in 75% is favour of bilingualism?

Based on what?

Another corrupt telephone poll that only includes names of Liberal supporters.

The only results I will believe are those from a plebiscite or referendum including the phrasing of the question asked.

[Remiel]

Since you are not willing to believe anything that proves you wrong can be possibly true, why do you not just screw off and start your own thread? I have seen you start plenty, so I imagine your limited abilities allow you to complete that task.

[Leafless]

Since you are not willing to believe anything that proves you wrong can be possibly true,

You can't even provide the question asked from the Fed's corrupt telephone poll, and how it was phrased and I am supposed to believe you.

why do you not just screw off and start your own thread? I have seen you start plenty, so I imagine your limited abilities allow you to complete that task.

I have several threads open and if no one directly challenges my opening statement and the thread veers in a different direction, so be it.

I am not the 'Gestapo' like you and your friends in Quebec are.

If your not open for a challenge, don't post.

[Remiel]

And why the hell am I suppose to believe you when you say a poll, that you haven't even seen, is corrupt?! You are taking it as a matter of faith that you are right and they and wrong. Maybe this is news to you, Leafless, but just because you think something, doesn't make it right. Yet, that is exactly the assumption you function on, that you are right, no matter what anyone else says.

You aren't even bright enough to make a relevant comparison. " Gestapo " my ass. I seem to have misplaced the memo that had the date and address for when we were raiding your house.

[August1991]

After reading Bakunin's reply to Charles Anthony's topic on French/English dual identity, it occurred to me to ask whether the failure of the federal government to encourage the export of Quebec media to the rest of Canada is the reason why we have a pitiful number of English French speakers, outside of Quebec, despite nine years or more of instruction in the subject.

In Belgium, the French (Wallons) are generally unilingual and don't speak Flemish. But the Flemish (Dutch) generally can manage accented French. In Brussels, the Flemish (not the French) get all the good jobs requiring bilingualism. It's the opposite of Canada.

With that example, I'll cut to the chase and explain my point of view. It is costly to learn another language and people only do it if the potential benefit is greater than the expected cost. In North America, a francophone is far more likely to meet an anglophone than an anglophone ever meet a francophone.

It's kind of like Apple and Microsoft.

So why doesn't everyone speak English? Well, would you want to put all of society's eggs into a single Microsoft basket? [There's another thread on how morality is hard-wired into our brains. I would argue that we're hard-wired to put our eggs into different baskets.]

Perhaps this is more of a non-issue in the age of the internet and satellite, but back when Trudeau envisioned a biligual Canada, was there a complete failure to " biculturalize " in addition to " bilingualize " the country? Could the bilingual policy of been a success if they took into account it takes more than a few language lessons in a classroom to make people interested in learning and retaining a different language?

First of all, Trudeau just wanted to make the federal bureaucracy bilingual.

In 1949, when Trudeau worked in the PCO, he saw first hand that French Quebecers couldn't even get jobs as drivers or cleaners in Ottawa. His first act as PM was to make it possible for French Quebecers to work in Ottawa. That is "bilingualism".

Having seen the aftermath of WWII, I think Trudeau also dreamed of a country where people were bilingual or non-national. Trudeau believed in the perfectibility of man.

Has there ever been a CBC television program (let alone a whole channel) aimed at bridging the gap, and making it easier for children (or adults) to continue to learn outside of the classroom?

Lots. They generally don't work.

I had a similar idea about video and computer games once before. If we know that people are going to spend vast amounts of time on a particular kind of entertainment, then why not integrate entertainment and education to such a degree that they essentially become a single element?

DVDs are great. Think of video stores in Montreal. In the past, they had to stock two VHS cassettes. Now, they stock one DVD (usually under the French title - 28 semaines plus tard).

As to learning language, do as the Dutch and Swedes. Turn on the DVD subtitles. If the movie is bad, you'll have fun reading the translation and comparing it to the spoken original. You could even learn Spanish that way.

[Canuck E Stan]

You cannot force people to learn a language for no other reason than to serve another (minority) cultures self interest.

The whole truth.

[Remiel]

As to learning language, do as the Dutch and Swedes. Turn on the DVD subtitles. If the movie is bad, you'll have fun reading the translation and comparing it to the spoken original. You could even learn Spanish that way.

I tried that today. At first, it seems difficult to put the spoken words to the written words, reading and listening at the same time. Especially when the action is going on, as you try to watch the scenes as well. In time though, I think it could help.

People underestimate the worth of language, though. In truth, if I had a chance to have everyone learn sign language and Braille, or to have all of the English learn French and all the French learn English, I would probably choose sign language and Braille. Then everyone could " converse " no matter what language they actually spoke, be it English, French, Chinese, Finnish, Swahili, etc, etc, etc. However, that would still keep one from enjoying movies and books and papers and websites of the other.

[Leafless]

And why the hell am I suppose to believe you when you say a poll, that you haven't even seen, is corrupt?! You are taking it as a matter of faith that you are right and they and wrong. Maybe this is news to you, Leafless, but just because you think something, doesn't make it right. Yet, that is exactly the assumption you function on, that you are right, no matter what anyone else says.

Can you proof any federal poll is legitimate.

If you can't, why the hell label me as a liar.

You aren't even bright enough to make a relevant comparison. " Gestapo " my ass. I seem to have misplaced the memo that had the date and address for when we were raiding your house.

There you go.

The same old militant Quebec style threats puking from the mouth total asshole.