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I don't think Canada is a great example, since the vast majority of native French speakers are located in only one region. There is a stronger case for English
by eloff 9y ago
I don't think Canada is a great example, since the vast majority of native French speakers are located in only one region. There is a stronger case for English Spanish bilingualism in the US than French English in Canada.
With Kazakhstan, I can totally see the case for equal status of Russian.
- kobayashi 9y agoAlso it’s a constitutional issue in Canada. The foundation of Canada was by mainly two groups: the English settlers in the French settlers. The confederation of Canada therefore gave both languages equal status.
- dddddaviddddd 9y agoThat's been the story since the 1960s at least; while the Constitution includes some guarantees for bilingualism this was much strengthened by the Official Languages Act as part of the federal response to the Quiet Revolution in Quebec.
- dghughes 9y agoI wouldn't say located in one region I mean sure Quebec has a lot of French speakers now but so do other regions in Canada. Look at Ontario, NB (majority there too?), even NS and PEI, plus don't forget Metis in the prairies. Hell a story on D'Arcy McGee a few days ago mentioned the majority of the population of Montreal was Irish in the late 1800s. Maybe more accurate is the majority of French speakers are concentrated in southern Quebec?
- deleted 9y ago[deleted]
- sergers 9y agoEastern Canada, Ontario to the east coast, has alot more french speakers in that region, compared to the rest of Canada. Even in Ontario, there are people who will only converse in French. Western Canada, I have never had to use french ever outside of highschool which I dropped French class after the required years. Alot of us resented being forced to learn French in BC cause practically never used. You don't need to know any french on the west coast, but it's a requirement in alot of places in eastern canada.