English signs must be taken down in Gaspé hospitals, language watchdog rules

AnnaG

Hall of Fame Member
Jul 5, 2009
17,507
117
63
In 2012, French only + French/English was spoken by a whopping 1.3% of the population here. 4.3% spoke Punjabi and 8.1% spoke a Chinese dialect. BC should change its official languages from English/French to English/Punjabi/Chinese.
 
Last edited:

gerryh

Time Out
Nov 21, 2004
25,756
295
83
I bet there is more Hindi spoken in BC than Canadian French. BC should change its official languages from English/French to English/Hindi.


Provincially, BC does not have an official language.
 

Twila

Nanah Potato
Mar 26, 2003
14,698
73
48
In 2012, French only + French/English was spoken by a whopping 1.3% of the population here. 4.3% spoke Punjabi and 8.1% spoke a Chinese dialect. BC should change its official languages from English/French to English/Punjabi/Chinese.

let's save money and have english as the official language. We'll be able to speak with most of the rest of the world and all world business's because nearly all non third world countries and alot of 3rd world countries learn english.

Those who refuse to learn english can just go about their business in the limited way they can and if they survive, fine. IF not oh well. They can speak whatever language at home, with their families, within their communities that they like. But english is official.

One of the accountants I work with came to BC from Quebec 4 yrs ago. He learned english here, in BC. Before that he was not taught in their school. His son had to go to a different school, pay for it in order to be able to learn english.

Seems kind of silly from what I can see of the situation at the moment.
 

AnnaG

Hall of Fame Member
Jul 5, 2009
17,507
117
63
Provincially, BC does not have an official language.
Oh damn. Well, maybe we should have one or two. lol

let's save money and have english as the official language. We'll be able to speak with most of the rest of the world and all world business's because nearly all non third world countries and alot of 3rd world countries learn english.

Those who refuse to learn english can just go about their business in the limited way they can and if they survive, fine. IF not oh well. They can speak whatever language at home, with their families, within their communities that they like. But english is official.

One of the accountants I work with came to BC from Quebec 4 yrs ago. He learned english here, in BC. Before that he was not taught in their school. His son had to go to a different school, pay for it in order to be able to learn english.

Seems kind of silly from what I can see of the situation at the moment.
What? Why in the world would a government be concerned about saving money?

Seriously, I agree. The "official language" issue is pretty much just sentimental and wasteful claptrap. How much Canadian French is spoken around the planet anyways? Certainly less than Parisian, Swiss, and Belgian French.
 

Machjo

Hall of Fame Member
Oct 19, 2004
17,878
61
48
Ottawa, ON
Provincially, BC does not have an official language.

Though the BC government is Constitutionally required to offer public education in French but not Chinese or Punhabi. Why not?

Oh damn. Well, maybe we should have one or two. lol

What? Why in the world would a government be concerned about saving money?

Seriously, I agree. The "official language" issue is pretty much just sentimental and wasteful claptrap. How much Canadian French is spoken around the planet anyways? Certainly less than Parisian, Swiss, and Belgian French.

Unless a particular regionalism appears in the text, there is no difference within standard French. Just like English colour vs. color. Very few differences.
 

AnnaG

Hall of Fame Member
Jul 5, 2009
17,507
117
63
Though the BC government is Constitutionally required to offer public education in French but not Chinese or Punhabi. Why not?
Like I said, because of sentimental bilgewater about the "founders" of Canada.

Unless a particular regionalism appears in the text, there is no difference within standard French. Just like English colour vs. color. Very few differences.
But there is a fair pile of difference between Canadian French and the others according to a Belgian friend and another friend who also happens to be a linguistics prof in Limoges, FR.
 

Twila

Nanah Potato
Mar 26, 2003
14,698
73
48
Unless a particular regionalism appears in the text, there is no difference within standard French. Just like English colour vs. color. Very few differences.

I've heard the opposite. But it could be a form of snobbery that seems to come with all kinds of types of french.

I've a friend who speaks Acadian french. We were at a party with a french Canadian who spoke very little english. He kept telling her he couldn't understand her french.
 

JLM

Hall of Fame Member
Nov 27, 2008
75,301
548
113
Vernon, B.C.
I've heard the opposite. But it could be a form of snobbery that seems to come with all kinds of types of french.

I've a friend who speaks Acadian french. We were at a party with a french Canadian who spoke very little english. He kept telling her he couldn't understand her french.

My mother took a trip to England many years ago. She was on a bus in the western counties of Cornwall and Devon where they also spoke English but she could not understand a word they were saying. There is a small town down there named Mousehole, but they pronounce it Mozzle. Go Figure!
 

Machjo

Hall of Fame Member
Oct 19, 2004
17,878
61
48
Ottawa, ON
I've heard the opposite. But it could be a form of snobbery that seems to come with all kinds of types of french.

I've a friend who speaks Acadian french. We were at a party with a french Canadian who spoke very little english. He kept telling her he couldn't understand her french.

Just like in English, the difference is minimal in the standard written language, but greater in the spoken. Compare written Scottish English and Texan English and then spoken Scottish and Texan English. I can understand both just as I can understand varying forms of French. My own French is widely understandable to others just as my English is due to their being similar to the standard English and French we hear in the media. Yet some Texans can't understand the Scotts.

It really comes down to the person in the end.
 

gerryh

Time Out
Nov 21, 2004
25,756
295
83
Though the BC government is Constitutionally required to offer public education in French but not Chinese or Punhabi. Why not?


You answered your own question.


I'm curious, it looks to me like you really don't get out and about much. Ever been to BC? Do you have any idea how big BC is? Do you have any idea where and if there are concentrations of Punjabi and Chinese in BC? If the answer is no these questions, then how can you discuss or question what the government does and doesn't do in those areas?
 

Machjo

Hall of Fame Member
Oct 19, 2004
17,878
61
48
Ottawa, ON
You answered your own question.


I'm curious, it looks to me like you really don't get out and about much. Ever been to BC? Do you have any idea how big BC is? Do you have any idea where and if there are concentrations of Punjabi and Chinese in BC? If the answer is no these questions, then how can you discuss or question what the government does and doesn't do in those areas?

I used to live in Victoria as a child and Vancouver later. I'd also attended a French-medium elementary school in Victoria.

And what's your experience of BC?

I now live in Eastern Canada but my primary home language is Chinese.
 

gerryh

Time Out
Nov 21, 2004
25,756
295
83
I used to live in Victoria as a child and Vancouver later. I'd also attended a French-medium elementary school in Victoria.

And what's your experience of BC?

I now live in Eastern Canada but my primary home language is Chinese.



I lived in the lower mainland of BC from '68 to 2001. Did you know that damn near every sign and street sign in Richmond is in Chinese? Did you know that in some areas of Greater Vancouver the majority of signs and streets signs are in Punjabi, or Chinese? If you did, then what the fu ck are you whining about? If you didn't, then what the fu ck are you whining about?
 

Machjo

Hall of Fame Member
Oct 19, 2004
17,878
61
48
Ottawa, ON
I lived in the lower mainland of BC from '68 to 2001. Did you know that damn near every sign and street sign in Richmond is in Chinese? Did you know that in some areas of Greater Vancouver the majority of signs and streets signs are in Punjabi, or Chinese? If you did, then what the fu ck are you whining about? If you didn't, then what the fu ck are you whining about?

Street signs are all the Coolies get? Luckily I was born a member of the 'two founding races.' That earned me my right to education in my language.
 

JLM

Hall of Fame Member
Nov 27, 2008
75,301
548
113
Vernon, B.C.
I lived in the lower mainland of BC from '68 to 2001. Did you know that damn near every sign and street sign in Richmond is in Chinese? Did you know that in some areas of Greater Vancouver the majority of signs and streets signs are in Punjabi, or Chinese? If you did, then what the fu ck are you whining about? If you didn't, then what the fu ck are you whining about?

Where did you live in the 20 years prior to 1968?
 

gerryh

Time Out
Nov 21, 2004
25,756
295
83
Street signs are all the Coolies get? Luckily I was born a member of the 'two founding races.' That earned me my right to education in my language.



zoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooom


keep proving how much of a moron you are,

Where did you live in the 20 years prior to 1968?


20 years? I'm not that old. I was 9 in '68
 

Machjo

Hall of Fame Member
Oct 19, 2004
17,878
61
48
Ottawa, ON
Nope. Just an end to this multiculti BS. You can't promote a Canadian identity and do multi culti at the same time. They are diametrically opposed ideas.

I agree with the principle of only one official language of Government administration, but not to impose it beyond government administration as is done in Quebec and even across Canada to a lesser extent.

Canada's policy is the worst on both fronts, two official languages along with their imposition beyond government administration into education, business, etc.
 

gerryh

Time Out
Nov 21, 2004
25,756
295
83
I agree with the principle of only one official language of Government administration, but not to impose it beyond government administration as is done in Quebec and even across Canada to a lesser extent.

Canada's policy is the worst on both fronts, two official languages along with their imposition beyond government administration into education, business, etc.


While yours is so much better. Imposition of multiple languages across the entire board.
 

Machjo

Hall of Fame Member
Oct 19, 2004
17,878
61
48
Ottawa, ON
While yours is so much better. Imposition of multiple languages across the entire board.

On the contrary. One official language of Government administration and a free linguistic market otherwise.

I acknowledge the need for the state, but I reject excessive statism, especially in cultural matters beyond what is necessary. I'm not a fanatical capitalist but do value a reasonably free market.