How best to fight sovereignism?

[Machjo]

From my past observations, it appears (and demographic and politial maps of Quebec substantiate this) that support for Quebec sovereignty is especially concentrated among monolingual French-speaking communities.

Do you think there is a strong correlation between support for sovereignty and ignorance of the English language?

And if so, how do you think this could be remedied?

 

[MHz]

By putting this post in French and making sure they read it and contribute some input to (firstly) verify it is a fact rather than a ploy (by bi-lingual groups) to keep the country distracted while important issues are decided under the radar of most people.
Besides all Provinces and Territories are still Sovereign, the joining of them to make a single country was never taken to the voters, the MP's voted yes but constitutional matters have to also be voted on by the voters for it to be a binding agreement. That cannot ever be changed.

 

[Machjo]

By putting this post in French and making sure they read it and contribute some input to (firstly) verify it is a fact rather than a ploy (by bi-lingual groups) to keep the country distracted while important issues are decided under the radar of most people.
Besides all Provinces and Territories are still Sovereign, the joining of them to make a single country was never taken to the voters, the MP's voted yes but constitutional matters have to also be voted on by the voters for it to be a binding agreement. That cannot ever be changed.

I've actually seen language-demographic maps of Quebec and maps showing strong sovereignist support, and the correlation seems strong enough to me. I've asked French-speakers too, and they generally differ in their opinion.s Some argue that it does have a direct correlation, while others argue that it has less to do with knowledge of English than with ethnic identity. Then again, communities that tend to be monolingual French-speaking also tend to be ethnically homogeneous. So there is an argument on both counts. I personally believe that language plays a role too though.

The reason I put this in English though is because I want English-speakers' input as to whether they think it plays a role or not. Of course French speakers would know more because they're the ones directly affected by this. But to know the perceptions of English-speakers, correct or not, can still be useful in better understanding whatever steriotypes or prejudices might exist within the English-speaking community.

I'm not saying this in a confrontational way, I just would like to know, no judgement passed.

 

[Machjo]

This seems to confirm it too:

Francophone Bilingualism, Inter-Group Contact, and Opposition to Sovereignty Among QueBec Francophones - Nationalism and Ethnic Politics

"Outside of Montr

al, we find that the linguistic composition of the population has little direct influence on support for sovereignty but that support for sovereignty declines as the proportion of francophones who know English rises. In Montr

al, we find that support for sovereignty rises as the non-francophone portion of the population declines, but knowledge of a second language does not influence support for sovereignty."

 

[Machjo]

Here's an interesting debate I just found:

French language in Canada? | Antimoon Forum

 

[Adriatik]

From my past observations, it appears (and demographic and politial maps of Quebec substantiate this) that support for Quebec sovereignty is especially concentrated among monolingual French-speaking communities.

Do you think there is a strong correlation between support for sovereignty and ignorance of the English language?

And if so, how do you think this could be remedied?

From my past observations, it appears that a lack of understanding of the differences that distinct Quebec from the rest of Canada is especially concentrated among monolingual English-speaking communities.

Do you think there is a correlation between that lack of understanding of Quebec's distinctiveness and ignorance of the French language?

And if so, how do you think this could be remedied?

 

[lone wolf]

Who controls the media? I suspect there may be some bias speaking to they who don't hear the other side.

 

[Machjo]

From my past observations, it appears that a lack of understanding of the differences that distinct Quebec from the rest of Canada is especially concentrated among monolingual English-speaking communities.

Do you think there is a correlation between that lack of understanding of Quebec's distinctiveness and ignorance of the French language?

And if so, how do you think this could be remedied?

I agree with you 100%. Equally valid question!

According to Statistics Canada in 2006, only about 17% of Canadians (this includes all of Canada including Quebec) are fluently bilingual. The rate of bilingualism was much higher in Quebec, going up to about 40% if I remember correctly, but I remember it was still a dismal rate of success.

That alone I think is proof that forcing students to learn English or French as a second language is rediculous unless they live in a relatively bilingual environment such as Montreal. This being the case, I'd recommend the following:

1. Prohibit any public school from making a second language compulsory unless the school can prove through past statistics from its previous graduates that it can guarantee a reasonalbe chance of success. My guess is few schools could make that guarantee, and most would be in Montreal owing to the environment.

2. Give schools the freedom to teach Esperanto as a second language. Esperanto is designed to be easy to learn in a short time even outside any ideal linguistic environment. In th elong term, this could allow all Canadians, not just those in Montreal or those with a higher educaiton, to be able to speak a common democratic neutral second language.

Somehow I doubt many English speakers would support such an idea though because it would threaten the supremacy of English in the world.

Even Quebec's elites would likely oppose it because if the whole Quebec population could become bilingual in French plus an easier language, this would threaten the priviledges position of the elites and Montrealers by removing their bilingual status in the face of majority monolingualism.

 

[Machjo]

I should say though that the idea above would not necessarily guarantee Canadian political unity, but would at least increase the chances of friendlier interpersonal relations and less animosity and more understanding and peace on both sides, rather than the flaming rhetoric we often here from monolinguals on both sides.