Quebec, the French Language, and Quebecois Identity - Page 56

JHikka · #**1101** Posted **Oct 27, 2021, 12:32 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Acajack

It's actually quite common (even in deepest Quebec, not just bordertown Gatineau) to hear francophone parents say they want to give their kids names that are easy to pronounce in French and English.

This must explain the rash of Mavrics and Manixs and Hendrixs these days.

Acajack · #**1102** Posted **Oct 27, 2021, 2:17 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by JHikka

This must explain the rash of Mavrics and Manixs and Hendrixs these days.

Not a fan of these as you can imagine. Though I am not a fan of similar but more French-sounding names like Christelle or Loumick either.

Dengler Avenue · #**1103** Posted **Nov 2, 2021, 11:13 PM**

I just learned that Mike Ward won his case in the Supreme Court about his joke on Jérémy Gabriel a few days ago.

saffronleaf · #**1104** Posted **Nov 4, 2021, 4:39 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Acajack

I'd still recalibrate the whole comparison and affirm that, controlling for other factors, being a unilingual francophone in Canada is still a more disadvantageous position than being a unilingual anglophone. By some measure.

It's easier being a unilingual Anglophone in Quebec than it is to be a unilingual Francophone anywhere outside of Quebec.

saffronleaf · #**1105** Posted **Nov 4, 2021, 4:46 AM**

• Video Link

kwoldtimer · #**1106** Posted **Nov 4, 2021, 2:19 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by saffronleaf

It's easier being a unilingual Anglophone in Quebec than it is to be a unilingual Francophone anywhere outside of Quebec.

And?

Acajack · #**1107** Posted **Nov 4, 2021, 2:21 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by kwoldtimer

And?

And... nothing. Though it's a popular myth in Tim Hortons and at backyard cookouts in the ROC that it's in fact the opposite that's true.

esquire · #**1108** Posted **Nov 4, 2021, 2:31 PM**

Major outrage about AC CEO Michael Rousseau's apparent inability to speak French.

Speak White, Air Canada

https://www.lapresse.ca/actualites/chroniques/2021-11-04/speak-white-air-canada.php

JHikka · #**1109** Posted **Nov 4, 2021, 2:33 PM**

Was wondering why I saw Quebecers talking about another separatism referendum online last night.

esquire · #**1110** Posted **Nov 4, 2021, 2:38 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by JHikka

Was wondering why I saw Quebecers talking about another separatism referendum online last night.

I see this as Air Canada's private business where public opinion doesn't really matter, but at the same time it is curious that this guy who apparently lived in Montreal for many years can't string a few sentences in French together to appease everyone. You'd think that if he has the brainpower and work ethic to ascend to CEO that he could at least handle that?!

I wonder if the situation is exacerbated by his name. Maybe if he was named Mike Petrowski he wouldn't be subject to these expectations?

kwoldtimer · #**1111** Posted **Nov 4, 2021, 2:41 PM**

Hasn't the Air Canada c-suite always been an English speaking enclave?

JHikka · #**1112** Posted **Nov 4, 2021, 2:44 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by esquire

I see this as Air Canada's private business where public opinion doesn't really matter, but at the same time it is curious that this guy who apparently lived in Montreal for many years can't string a few sentences in French together to appease everyone. You'd think that if he has the brainpower and work ethic to ascend to CEO that he could at least handle that?!

It's easy to live English-only in Montreal if you live in specific neighbourhoods and spend all your time with specific people. Very easy to find unilingual Anglophones at, say, McGill.

Quote:

Originally Posted by kwoldtimer

Hasn't the Air Canada c-suite always been an English speaking enclave?

Apparently so if this issue was never brought up internally until Rousseau faced the public.

Quote:

Originally Posted by esquire

I wonder if the situation is exacerbated by his name. Maybe if he was named Mike Petrowski he wouldn't be subject to these expectations?

Simply salt in the wound.

Acajack · #**1113** Posted **Nov 4, 2021, 3:58 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by esquire

I see this as Air Canada's private business where public opinion doesn't really matter, but at the same time it is curious that this guy who apparently lived in Montreal for many years can't string a few sentences in French together to appease everyone. You'd think that if he has the brainpower and work ethic to ascend to CEO that he could at least handle that?!

I wonder if the situation is exacerbated by his name. Maybe if he was named Mike Petrowski he wouldn't be subject to these expectations?

Air Canada has never been particularly good with official languages (well, French) in spite of being bound by the Official Languages Act under the terms of its privatization act. Of course the law doesn't specify that the head honcho needs to be bilingual, but the way he and Air Canada have handled this, coupled with a reboot of the language debate in general, have made him a bit of a lightning rod. Or maybe a sacrificial lamb.

I'd assume the way Air Canada's public affairs department has handled this over the past 24-48 hours will be studied at some point by university communications students - as an example of what not to do.

thewave46 · #**1114** Posted **Nov 4, 2021, 4:05 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by esquire

Major outrage about AC CEO Michael Rousseau's apparent inability to speak French.

Speak White, Air Canada

https://www.lapresse.ca/actualites/chroniques/2021-11-04/speak-white-air-canada.php

It's pretty tone-deaf for the new-ish head of Air Canada, especially after Calin Rovinescu's quite successful tenure.

It's one thing to be an outsider like Montie Brewer (former United Airlines CEO) that no one has much in the way of expectations for.

Not that it will really change anything; Air Canada will remain the only real national carrier and will embody the national spirit in its true form. Mostly English, grudgingly offering French. The only airline with real 'national' presence, yet mostly focused on looking outside of the borders of Canada, not very much interested in serving within. Kind of an embodiment of the indifferent, fat oligopoly we kind of take as normal here.

I guess those who want a real French-speaking airline could fly Air Transat or Air France.

Acajack · #**1115** Posted **Nov 4, 2021, 4:08 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by thewave46

I guess those who want a real French-speaking airline could fly Air Transat or Air France.

Pop quiz - who founded Air Transat?

casper · #**1116** Posted **Nov 4, 2021, 4:18 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by thewave46

It's pretty tone-deaf for the new-ish head of Air Canada, especially after Calin Rovinescu's quite successful tenure.

It's one thing to be an outsider like Montie Brewer (former United Airlines CEO) that no one has much in the way of expectations for.

Not that it will really change anything; Air Canada will remain the only real national carrier and will embody the national spirit in its true form. Mostly English, grudgingly offering French. The only airline with real 'national' presence, yet mostly focused on looking outside of the borders of Canada, not very much interested in serving within. Kind of an embodiment of the indifferent, fat oligopoly we kind of take as normal here.

I guess those who want a real French-speaking airline could fly Air Transat or Air France.

I have always found that Air Canada does live in flight announcements in both English and French. The other guys (WS) are more likely to have a taped version in French.

I have found that Air Canada flights out of Montreal tend to be French first, English second. The same for Quebec City.

Honestly I think AC has done well in offering services in both languages.

MolsonExport · #**1117** Posted **Nov 4, 2021, 4:23 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Acajack

Pop quiz - who founded Air Transat?

OldDartmouthMark · #**1118** Posted **Nov 4, 2021, 4:23 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by casper

I have always found that Air Canada does live in flight announcements in both English and French. The other guys (WS) are more likely to have a taped version in French.

I have found that Air Canada flights out of Montreal tend to be French first, English second. The same for Quebec City.

Honestly I think AC has done well in offering services in both languages.

I've even heard flight announcements in Japanese going into Calgary, not that this has anything to do with the CEO not speaking French.

One would think that a translator could be made available for him, but I guess that's not the point.

kwoldtimer · #**1119** Posted **Nov 4, 2021, 4:31 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by OldDartmouthMark

I've even heard flight announcements in Japanese going into Calgary, not that this has anything to do with the CEO not speaking French.

One would think that a translator could be made available for him, but I guess that's not the point.

I doubt that the head of lAir Canada is making flight announcements.

MonctonRad · #**1120** Posted **Nov 4, 2021, 4:34 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by thewave46

Air Canada will remain the only real national carrier and will embody the national spirit in its true form. Mostly English, grudgingly offering French. The only airline with real 'national' presence, yet mostly focused on looking outside of the borders of Canada, not very much interested in serving within. Kind of an embodiment of the indifferent, fat oligopoly we kind of take as normal here.

Geez - with those creds, AC should be headquartered in Toronto! They were made for each other.