scholarly journals The Future of Official Language Minorities

2005 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 189-202
Author(s):  
Joseph Eliot Magnet
Keyword(s):  
Official Language ◽  
Language Minorities ◽  
The Future ◽  
Développement Économique

Quelle est la situation actuelle des langues minoritaires au Canada ? Tandis que les communautés de francophones hors Québec n'ont cessé de décroître depuis le siècle dernier, celle des anglophones du Québec avait su se maintenir jusqu'à récemment. Cependant l'avènement de la Charte de la langue française a modifié considérablement la situation. Tout cela nous amène à nous interroger à savoir si les minorités linguistiques survivront au Canada. Pour cela, il faudrait que ces minorités soient centralisées territorialement et que soient mises sur pied des institutions permettant l'usage de leur langue, telles des écoles, des structures gouvernementales, culturelles et économiques. La grande lacune au Canada en matière de protection des communautés linguistiques se situe au plan du développement économique. Le gouvernement, en implantant des centres de recherches et des services spécialisés au sein d'une communauté minoritaire, assurerait sa subsistance.

The Official Language Problem

1991 ◽  
Vol 85 (2) ◽  
pp. 495-514 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan Pool
Keyword(s):  
Language Policy ◽  
Policy Maker ◽  
Official Language ◽  
Language Problem ◽  
Language Groups ◽  
Language Minorities ◽  
Official Languages ◽  
Elegant Solution

Polities and organizations use and require particular languages for official business. The choice of official languages is a vexing issue. Theorists, convinced that a fair language policy cannot be efficient, have despaired of an elegant solution. To investigate this apparent dilemma, I mathematically model the problem of choosing an efficient and fair language policy for a plurilingual polity. The policy designates official languages and taxes the language groups to pay for translation among the official languages. Contrary to prevailing wisdom, this model implies that a fair language policy can be efficient. But what if language groups rationally misrepresent the costs of using a nonnative official language? Even then, the policy maker can discover a fair language policy and, under some conditions, can use a cost-revelation procedure that discovers a fair and efficient language policy. The results challenge the claim that efficiency and practicality excuse the inferior treatment of language minorities.

scholarly journals The interaction of the underived vocabulary of the Smolensk patois and the Belarusian language (incomplete lexical matches)

Neophilology ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 202-212
Author(s):  
Ekaterina S. Lunkova
Keyword(s):  
Official Language ◽  
Present Stage ◽  
Lexical Meaning ◽  
Synchronous Language ◽  
Oral Form ◽  
The Future ◽  
The Status ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Language Laws

The work is focused on specific underived nouns that are functioning in the Smolensk patois and in the Belarusian language at the present stage of the existence of these language systems and are quite close, but not identical formations in semantic and structural terms. The subject of the study is the volume of lexical meaning and potential derivational connections of nouns recorded in two synchronous language formations. The relevance of the study is determined by the complex history of the Russian and Belarusian borderland, which is reflected both in the Smolensk patois and in the Belarusian language, which had been created on the dialect basis. The vocabulary of the Russian and Belarusian borderland belongs to a single cultural and historical continuum de-termined by the history of the region, it reflects the diverse material and spiritual ties of the two language idioms’ speakers. The complexity of the historical relations between the two language systems, one of which is codified and has the status of an official language (Belarusian language), and the second exists only in an oral form and has a norm due to internal language laws of devel-opment (Smolensk patois), has led to the fact that when studying two language formations at the present stage, it is possible to speak not only about unambiguous types of relations between words, but also about peripheral types, about zones of various transitions, changes in lexical and grammatical semantics, which can potentially be points of development of two idioms in the future and are therefore valuable for study.

scholarly journals Determinants of self-rated health of Francophone seniors in a minority situation in Canada

2013 ◽  
pp. 144-170
Author(s):  
Hubert Tote Alimezelli ◽  
Anne Leis ◽  
Chandima Karunanayake ◽  
Wilfrid Denis
Keyword(s):  
Minority Language ◽  
The Self ◽  
Official Language ◽  
Self Rated Health ◽  
Current Trends ◽  
Linguistic Barriers ◽  
Language Minorities ◽  
Official Languages ◽  
Health Institutions ◽  
Developed Nations

Current trends show that governments and health institutions in Canada and other developed nations are responding inadequately to the growing need for health services of the increasingly aging population. The Analysis of Statistics Canada’s 2006 post-census Survey on the Vitality of Official Language Minorities show that in addition to age and other socio-demographic determinants, linguistic barriers affect the self-rated health of seniors of official languages living in a minority situation. This study suggests among other things a greater understanding of Official language minorities’ contextual realities, the improvement of both the linguistic environment and services in the minority language.

scholarly journals Les droits linguistiques canadiens en évolution

2005 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 227-238
Author(s):  
D’Iberville Fortier
Keyword(s):  
Royal Commission ◽  
Development Projects ◽  
Official Language ◽  
Quiet Revolution ◽  
Federal Level ◽  
Linguistic Rights ◽  
Common Basis ◽  
Language Minorities ◽  
Official Languages ◽  
Droits Linguistiques

The Commissioner of Official Languages presents the evolution of linguistic rights from the time of Confederation up to the period of the Quiet Revolution in Québec. This survey dwells upon guarantees granted to linguistic minorities in Canada. At the Federal level of government, the author describes the consequences of the Royal Commission of Enquiry on Bilingualism and Biculturalism : The Official Languages Act and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. At the provincial level of government, he draws up an overall account of the factual integration of these laws. His observations lead him to conclude that Canada will never be a homogeneous country with regard to linguistic rights and that minority aid systems are deficient. As a solution, the author underscores the timeliness of Federal-provincial arrangements with a view to creating specific development projects for official language minorities in accordance with local needs, but founded upon a common basis.

scholarly journals Impact of Language Barriers on Quality of Care and Patient Safety for Official Language Minority Francophones in Canada

2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 24-32 ◽  
Author(s):  
Danielle de Moissac ◽  
Sarah Bowen
Keyword(s):  
Patient Safety ◽  
Quality Of Care ◽  
Ad Hoc ◽  
Minority Groups ◽  
Language Barriers ◽  
Official Language ◽  
Delayed Treatment ◽  
Language Minorities ◽  
Canadian Provinces

Introduction: The risks to patient safety and quality of care faced by members of linguistic minority groups have been well-documented. However, little research has focused on the experience of official language minorities in Canada. Methods: This multiple method study (online and paper-based surveys combined with semi-structured individual interviews with patients and interpreters-health navigators) explored the experience of minority Francophones living in 4 Canadian provinces. Results: Patients and interpreters-navigators described experiences where language barriers contributed to poorer patient assessment, misdiagnosis and/or delayed treatment, incomplete understanding of patient condition and prescribed treatment, and impaired confidence in services received. Reliance on Google Translate and ad hoc, untrained interpreters are commonly reported, in spite of evidence highlighting the risks associated with such practice. Conclusion: Increased awareness that the risks of language barriers apply to official language minorities is essential.

scholarly journals Reading the Rocks Reloaded: A Celebration of the Geological Survey of Canada 175th Anniversary with a View to the Future

2019 ◽  
Vol 45 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 151-162
Author(s):  
Daniel Lebel
Keyword(s):  
Economic Development ◽  
Technological Innovation ◽  
Geological Survey ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
The Future ◽  
Développement Économique ◽  
The Many ◽  
Resource Economy ◽  
Geoscience Research ◽  
Do So

In 2017, the Geological Survey of Canada (GSC) celebrated its 175th anniversary, just as the 150th anniversary of the Canadian Confederation was celebrated. In many ways, the development of this organization over its long history parallels the exploration and economic development of our country, and these two stories are very closely intertwined. In its early days, the GSC was involved in charting the essential geography of Canada’s landmass, and early GSC geologists were involved in some of the discoveries that laid a foundation for our modern resource economy. In the 21st century, the GSC remains at the forefront of geoscience research across the nation, collaborating with many Provincial and Territorial partners and also with academic and industry researchers to expand our knowledge and find ways to sustainably develop our resources. Like all organizations, GSC has evolved over the years, and must continue to do so in response to technological innovation and societal demands. This article provides an overview of where we came from, where we have been, where we are today, and where we hope to go in the future. It is hoped that it will provide a starting point for other articles highlighting some of GSC’s more specific scientific contributions over the years, and exploring some of the many characters who colourfully populate its long history.RÉSUMÉEn 2017, la Commission géologique du Canada (CGC) a célébré son 175ème anniversaire, alors que l’on célébrait le 150ème anniversaire de la confédération canadienne. De plusieurs façons, le développement de cette organisation au cours de sa longue histoire suit en parallèle l’exploration et le développement économique de notre pays, et ces deux histoires sont très intimement inter-reliées. Dans ses premiers jours, la CGC a été impliquée dans la cartographie géographique essentielle de la masse continentale du Canada, et ses premiers géologues de la CGC ont été impliqués dans certaines des découvertes qui ont jeté les bases de notre économie moderne des ressources. Au XXIe siècle, la CGC reste à l’avant-garde de la recherche géoscientifique à travers le pays et collabore avec de nombreux partenaires provinciaux et territoriaux ainsi qu’avec des chercheurs universitaires et industriels afin d’élargir nos connaissances et de trouver des moyens de développer nos ressources de manière durable. Comme toutes les organisations, la CGC a évolué au cours des années, et doit continuer de le faire en réponse à l’innovation technologique et aux besoins sociétaux. Cet article fourni un aperçu de nos origines, de notre cheminement, de notre situation actuelle et de nos objectifs futurs. On espère que cela fournira un point de départ pour d’autres articles mettant en lumière certaines des contributions scientifiques plus spécifiques de la CGC au fil des ans et explorant certains des nombreux personnages qui peuplent de manière colorée sa longue histoire.

scholarly journals La modification constitutionnelle de 1987, la reconnaissance du Québec comme société distincte et la dualité linguistique du Canada

2005 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-63
Author(s):  
José Woehrling
Keyword(s):  
Prime Minister ◽  
Essential Elements ◽  
The Other ◽  
Official Language ◽  
Historical Account ◽  
Constitutional Amendments ◽  
Division Of Powers ◽  
Language Minorities ◽  
Potential Impact ◽  
La Modification

On June 3, 1987, the Prime Minister of Canada and the ten provincial premiers signed the 1987 Constitutional Accord in which they agreed to amend the Canadian Constitution in order to meet the Quebec government's conditions for adherence to the Constitution Act, 1982. The recognition of Canada's linguistic duality and of Quebec as a distinct society were among the constitutional amendments agreed upon. These clauses continue to spark controversy, with some commentators claiming that the terms used in the Accord are too ambiguous, while others argue that their insertion in the Constitution will give rise to politically undesirable results. The author considers the meaning of these clauses and presents an historical account of the notions of “duality” and “distinct society” by analyzing their essential elements. He argues that if governments have recognized duality in order to protect the official language minorities, the purpose of the clause dealing with the protection and promotion of Quebec's distinct society is to maintain and develop its Francophone character. Where these two objectives conflict, the clause in the Constitutional Accord recognizing Canada's linguistic duality will prevail. The Accord's potential impact on the division of legislative powers and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms are also examined. In the author's opinion, the division of powers will not be modified; however, the recognition of duality and of Quebec as a distinct society may limit the potentially centralizing effects of the Charter. On the other hand, by relying on the duality clause, the courts will be able — should they so desire — to give the Charter's language guarantees a broader interpretation than they have until now been accorded. The author concludes by considering the possible interplay between the linguistic duality and the distinct society clauses once they are entrenched, and the multiculturalism clause (section 27 of the Charter,).

De Sociolinguïstiek in het Nederlandse Taalgebied Anno 1995

1995 ◽  
Vol 52 ◽  
pp. 9-22
Author(s):  
Catia Cucchiarini ◽  
Erica Huls
Keyword(s):  
Language Acquisition ◽  
The Netherlands ◽  
Conceptual Framework ◽  
Conversation Analysis ◽  
Language Contact ◽  
Classification Scheme ◽  
Linguistic Research ◽  
Language Minorities ◽  
The Future

This article provides an overview of the Second Sociolinguistic Conference, which was held in Lunteren (The Netherlands) from 18 to 19 May 1995. In particular, attention is focused on the topics and theories that turned out to play an important role at this conference. The article begins with a comparison between the contents of the First Sociolinguistic Conference (1991) and those of the Second Sociolinguistic Conference (1995). The papers presented are classified according to the topics they dealt with. The categories adopted in this overview are those used on earlier occasions by Muysken (1984) to assess developments in socio-linguistic research and by Van Hout, Huls & Verhallen (1991) in their presentation of the First Sociolinguistic Conference. Since any classification scheme is likely to be somewhat arbitrary, the same categorisation as in the above-mentioned two papers was used here for the sake of comparability. When the papers presented at the two Sociolinguistic Conferences are compared, it appears that 'bilingualism and language contact' and 'pragmatics, interaction, and conversation analysis' constitute the main topics in both cases. The most conspicuous change from 1991 to 1995 is a growing interest in the process of language acquisition by members of language minorities in the Netherlands and Flanders. An analysis of the papers presented at the 1995 conference, would seem to suggest that a considerable amount of sociolinguistic research is conducted without reference to a specific theory or conceptual framework. The consequences that this might have for the future of sociolinguistic research in the Netherlands and Flanders are briefly considered. Finally, a number of young sociolinguists were invited to reply to the rather provocative conclusion drawn in this article.

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