Quebec, the French Language, and Quebecois Identity - Page 570

Acajack · #**11381** Posted **Dec 3, 2024, 6:03 PM**

Franco-Ontarienne comedienne Katherine Levac doing ads for Quebec's Ministry of Transportation:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALCf3sXxQB4

Here she is doing Paidge Beaulieu, her caricature of a young Franco-Ontarienne woman:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4X9Gc4F27LA

P'tit Renard · #**11382** Posted **Dec 3, 2024, 6:10 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Acajack

Franco-Ontarienne comedienne Katherine Levac doing ads for Quebec's Ministry of Transportation:

She was awesome on Like-moi!

New Brisavoine · #**11383** Posted **Dec 3, 2024, 6:12 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Acajack

Here she is doing Paidge Beaulieu, her caricature of a young Franco-Ontarienne woman:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4X9Gc4F27LA

She sounds like an Anglophone trying to speak French.

It's funny how cultures work. I suppose it makes people in Québec laugh, but to me it's not funny at all. It's even a bit sad frankly.

Acajack · #**11384** Posted **Dec 3, 2024, 6:34 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by New Brisavoine

She sounds like an Anglophone trying to speak French.

It's funny how cultures work. I suppose it makes people in Québec laugh, but to me it's not funny at all. It's even a bit sad frankly.

An unfortunate thing about the Franco-Ontarien accent when this thick is that to Québécois ears is precisely that it sounds very similar to how many Anglo-Quebecers speak French. (Acadiens never get this. Their accent, though different, is intuitively recognized as a francophone accent by Québécois.)

So what happens a lot is that Québécois will assume these people are anglophones, all of which really insults Franco-Ontariens, who tend to think they are every bit as francophone as the Québécois.

My wife had a very noticeable Franco-Ontarien accent when we moved to Quebec. Not really like Paidge Beaulieu, but strong enough that people knew she wasn't Québécoise. It really bugged her when some people switched to English with her, supposedly to be nice.

Her accent has since faded and become more Québécois, so this never happens anymore.

New Brisavoine · #**11385** Posted **Dec 3, 2024, 6:51 PM**

There is only one proper French accent in North America anyway. When all is lost elsewhere, it will still be there.

• Video Link

Acajack · #**11386** Posted **Dec 3, 2024, 7:00 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by New Brisavoine

There is only one proper French accent in North America anyway. When all is lost elsewhere, it will still be there.

• Video Link

Distant cousins of this guy:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-aso5_-PdoI

New Brisavoine · #**11387** Posted **Dec 3, 2024, 7:35 PM**

He was never my cup of tea...

Acajack · #**11388** Posted **Dec 3, 2024, 8:51 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by New Brisavoine

He was never my cup of tea...

How well known was he in France? I do know he and some of his contemporaries like Félix Leclerc did attain some degree of fame overseas.

kwoldtimer · #**11389** Posted **Dec 3, 2024, 9:46 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Acajack

Franco-Ontarienne comedienne Katherine Levac doing ads for Quebec's Ministry of Transportation:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALCf3sXxQB4

Here she is doing Paidge Beaulieu, her caricature of a young Franco-Ontarienne woman:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4X9Gc4F27LA

She's lost a lot of weight! Does she sound Franco-Ontarian in the commercial?

OldDartmouthMark · #**11390** Posted **Dec 3, 2024, 10:05 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by New Brisavoine

^^Meanwhile, the Brits are fuming. Trump's first visit abroad will be to.... https://www.lemonde.fr/international/art...de-notre-dame-de-paris_6427147_3210.html

To be a puddle, and not even being patted by the master. What a dog's life!

Maybe he will bring his new pick for Ambassador to France with him!

https://www.cnn.com/2024/11/30/politics/charles-kushner-france-ambassador-trump/index.html

New Brisavoine · #**11391** Posted **Dec 3, 2024, 10:34 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Acajack

How well known was he in France? I do know he and some of his contemporaries like Félix Leclerc did attain some degree of fame overseas.

He was known, by the older generation. But I've always found his songs a bit boring, too cliché.

New Brisavoine · #**11392** Posted **Dec 3, 2024, 10:42 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by kwoldtimer

She's lost a lot of weight! Does she sound Franco-Ontarian in the commercial?

She doesn't have an English accent in the commercial.

That commercial is very Québécois by the way. French authorities would NEVER communicate in such a fun and cheeky way (they are far too boringly serious here).

Also, "chantiers" is not used in France in the sense they use it in the video. It sounds really odd here. A "chantier" is a closed place, not a place you drive through (that would be "travaux routiers", or "zone de travaux").

"Zone de chantiers" would mean you're crossing an area were several "chantiers" (closed places) that have access ways opening onto your road, so expect to see trucks from the chantiers suddenly coming on the road from the nearby "chantiers".

For what they talk about in the video it's "zone de travaux".

Acajack · #**11393** Posted **Dec 4, 2024, 2:09 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by New Brisavoine

She doesn't have an English accent in the commercial.

That commercial is very Québécois by the way. French authorities would NEVER communicate in such a fun and cheeky way (they are far too boringly serious here).

Also, "chantiers" is not used in France in the sense they use it in the video. It sounds really odd here. A "chantier" is a closed place, not a place you drive through (that would be "travaux routiers", or "zone de travaux").

"Zone de chantiers" would mean you're crossing an area were several "chantiers" (closed places) that have access ways opening onto your road, so expect to see trucks from the chantiers suddenly coming on the road from the nearby "chantiers".

For what they talk about in the video it's "zone de travaux".

Our signs also say TRAVAUX:

https://www.rsr.transports.gouv.qc.ca/Dispositifs/Details.aspx?cid=13895&che=TRAVX&cat=TRAVX

CHANTIER is the actual work zone, which is a restricted area:

https://www.leclaireurprogres.ca/actuali...ans-les-routes-de-la-beauce-cette-annee/

Acajack · #**11394** Posted **Dec 4, 2024, 2:12 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by kwoldtimer

She's lost a lot of weight! Does she sound Franco-Ontarian in the commercial?

Yes, in the past few years she has lost a lot of weight, come out as a lesbian, and had at least one child.

She doesn't sound Franco-Ontarienne in that ad, but in all honesty she never did that much since the start of her career.

She comes from a part of Ontario where the francophone accent isn't that different and people can often pass for Québécois. Any slight differences in accent tend to be rapidly shed after they've been living in Quebec for a while.

Though maybe when she is with her family at Christmas she reverts back to something that sounds more Franco-Ontarien. That's quite common.

kwoldtimer · #**11395** Posted **Dec 4, 2024, 2:33 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Acajack

Yes, in the past few years she has lost a lot of weight, come out as a lesbian, and had at least one child.

She doesn't sound Franco-Ontarienne in that ad, but in all honesty she never did that much since the start of her career.

She comes from a part of Ontario where the francophone accent isn't that different and people can often pass for Québécois. Any slight differences in accent tend to be rapidly shed after they've been living in Quebec for a while.

Though maybe when she is with her family at Christmas she reverts back to something that sounds more Franco-Ontarien. That's quite common.

Here in Ottawa, at least with educated Francophones from the Ottawa region and the line east toward Montreal, I can never hear the difference. In the commercial, she pronounced a final "r" in a way that sounded like an English speaker, which was why I wondered.

Acajack · #**11396** Posted **Dec 4, 2024, 2:40 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by kwoldtimer

In the commercial, she pronounced a final "r" in a way that sounded like an English speaker, which was why I wondered.

She has a cutesy goofy way of speaking as well, which probably diverts attention away from any Franco-Ontarien subtleties that still remain in her accent.

New Brisavoine · #**11397** Posted **Dec 4, 2024, 6:50 PM**

I was reading this FT article today (which should also be food for thought for you guys, even more than for us whose societies are much more different than the US). According to the article, France has a higher GDP per capita than Canada, this despite the fact we don't have tar sands and other bountiful natural resources. (and this despite 40+ years of stupid and detrimental Socialist policies, such as 35-hour workweek, lowering retirement age to 60, highest level of taxation in the world, overburdening businesses with red tape, etc., which makes it even more impressive)

Quote:

What makes the US truly exceptional

Financial Times
December 3, 2024

https://www.ft.com/content/a757fb35-889b-46a7-b32c-5e8e254f6450

MolsonExport · #**11398** Posted **Dec 4, 2024, 8:47 PM**

Annual GDP [+] 2023
France: $3,051,832M
Canada $2,142,471M 2023

GDP per capita [+] 2023
France: $46,305
Canada: $53,607

New Brisavoine · #**11399** Posted **Dec 4, 2024, 10:07 PM**

^^Your figures are in US dollars at market exchange rates. That's not how GDP per capita is compared.

GDP per capita is compared at purchasing power parity. That's what the FT used in their article.

theman23 · #**11400** Posted **Dec 4, 2024, 11:11 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by New Brisavoine

^^Your figures are in US dollars at market exchange rates. That's not how GDP per capita is compared.

GDP per capita is compared at purchasing power parity. That's what the FT used in their article.

The good news is our relative drop-off isn't as bad as Italy. Score another win for the good guys

.