Linguistic Chaos in Linguistic Chaos in MontrealMontreal

1995 Referendum1995 Referendum

History of MontrealHistory of Montreal

Northern Entry to the Northern Entry to the ContinentContinent

► Orig. Iroquois settlement called HochelagaOrig. Iroquois settlement called Hochelaga► ““Discovered” in 1535 by Jacques CartierDiscovered” in 1535 by Jacques Cartier

Settlement of MontrealSettlement of Montreal

Settlement of MontrealSettlement of Montreal

► Orig. Iroquois settlement called HochelagaOrig. Iroquois settlement called Hochelaga► ““Discovered” in 1535 by Jacques CartierDiscovered” in 1535 by Jacques Cartier► Ville Marie founded 1642 (Iroquois gone)Ville Marie founded 1642 (Iroquois gone)► Defensible and accessible siteDefensible and accessible site► Center of French settlement & fur trade for 120 yrs.Center of French settlement & fur trade for 120 yrs.► Center of English commerce & industry after 1760Center of English commerce & industry after 1760

Canal de LachineCanal de Lachine

Downtown Montreal viewed Downtown Montreal viewed from the Canal de Lachinefrom the Canal de Lachine

Settlement of MontrealSettlement of Montreal

► Orig. Iroquois settlement called HochelagaOrig. Iroquois settlement called Hochelaga► ““Discovered” in 1535 by Jacques CartierDiscovered” in 1535 by Jacques Cartier► Ville Marie founded 1642 (Iroquois gone)Ville Marie founded 1642 (Iroquois gone)► Defensible and accessible siteDefensible and accessible site► Center of French settlement & fur trade for 120 yrs.Center of French settlement & fur trade for 120 yrs.► Center of English commerce & industry after 1760Center of English commerce & industry after 1760► Canal de Lachine creates industrial axis & Canal de Lachine creates industrial axis &

immigration magnetimmigration magnet► Golden Square Mile 1850-1930: 70% of Canada’s Golden Square Mile 1850-1930: 70% of Canada’s

wealthwealth► St. Lawrence Seaway 1959St. Lawrence Seaway 1959

Montreal TodayMontreal Today

Montreal TodayMontreal Today

Population DensityPopulation Density

BilingualismBilingualism

The Order of ChaosThe Order of Chaos

► Bilingualism Bilingualism below 40% outside Montrealbelow 40% outside Montreal 40-100% on Island of Montreal40-100% on Island of Montreal

► Political tension around languagePolitical tension around language Canada officially bilingual, mostly AnglophoneCanada officially bilingual, mostly Anglophone Quebec officially monolingualQuebec officially monolingual language choice is politicized in Montreallanguage choice is politicized in Montreal impacts of politicization may be contradictory impacts of politicization may be contradictory

and counter-intuitiveand counter-intuitive

► Complicated linguistic geographyComplicated linguistic geography

Schematic Diagram of Schematic Diagram of Montreal’s Linguistic GeographyMontreal’s Linguistic Geography

French and English mixFrench and English mix

►many words like cool, gang, show, and many words like cool, gang, show, and “tripper” have found their way into French“tripper” have found their way into French

► a few words like metro, dépanneur, CEGEP, a few words like metro, dépanneur, CEGEP, and “confessional” (denominational) have and “confessional” (denominational) have found their way into Montreal Englishfound their way into Montreal English

► conversations flip-flop as bilingual friends conversations flip-flop as bilingual friends with different mother tongues conversewith different mother tongues converse

► sentences flip-flop: “These shoes hurt here sentences flip-flop: “These shoes hurt here et juste en arriere” (overheard on street) et juste en arriere” (overheard on street) “C’est pour ça que I’ve been wanting to talk “C’est pour ça que I’ve been wanting to talk to you” (overheard in café)to you” (overheard in café)

Language PoliticsLanguage Politics

►As suggested above, the language As suggested above, the language games resemble a dance, a games resemble a dance, a promiscuous mingling of languagespromiscuous mingling of languages

►People take delight in shifting from People take delight in shifting from language to language at whimlanguage to language at whim

►Nevertheless, language is a locus of Nevertheless, language is a locus of heart-felt struggle in Quebec and in heart-felt struggle in Quebec and in Montreal Montreal

The dance of English and The dance of English and French is less chaotic than it French is less chaotic than it

appears.appears.

Language GamesLanguage Games

►Mr. Smith starts in French to show that he accepts Mr. Smith starts in French to show that he accepts that French is the official language of Quebecthat French is the official language of Quebec

►Mr. Tremblay switches to (almost perfect) English Mr. Tremblay switches to (almost perfect) English to show his good will and/or to avoid confusionto show his good will and/or to avoid confusion

► If Smith does not acknowledge this good will by If Smith does not acknowledge this good will by abandoning his attempt to speak French, this will abandoning his attempt to speak French, this will be taken as a sign that Tremblay’s English is not be taken as a sign that Tremblay’s English is not good enough (a snub) good enough (a snub) andand a sign of stupidity a sign of stupidity and/or vanity because Smith overestimates his and/or vanity because Smith overestimates his (undoubtedly flawed) French(undoubtedly flawed) French

►However, if Jones becomes complacent and uses However, if Jones becomes complacent and uses English first, he will encounter “incomprehension” English first, he will encounter “incomprehension” or somewhat surly use of Englishor somewhat surly use of English

Axes of Variation in Language Axes of Variation in Language GamesGames

► TimeTime centuries (???)centuries (???) decadesdecades monthsmonths

► SpaceSpace East Island vs. West IslandEast Island vs. West Island on island vs. off islandon island vs. off island public vs. private spacepublic vs. private space Francophone vs. Anglophone establishmentsFrancophone vs. Anglophone establishments

► e.g. donut shop vs. pastry shope.g. donut shop vs. pastry shop

► EthnicityEthnicity Anglophones are not necessarily Anglos!Anglophones are not necessarily Anglos! Many Italians, Greeks, Arabs, etc.Many Italians, Greeks, Arabs, etc. Jewish population predominantly AnglophoneJewish population predominantly Anglophone

Political ContextPolitical Context► a linguistic island “six millions de francophones a linguistic island “six millions de francophones

perdus dans un océan d’anglophones”perdus dans un océan d’anglophones”► RenRené Lévesque (founder of the Parti Québécois): é Lévesque (founder of the Parti Québécois):

“To be unable to live as ourselves, as we should “To be unable to live as ourselves, as we should live, in our own language and according to our own live, in our own language and according to our own ways, would be like living without an arm or a leg—ways, would be like living without an arm or a leg—or perhaps a heart.”or perhaps a heart.”

► linguistic peculiarity increasing through out-linguistic peculiarity increasing through out-migration and in-migrationmigration and in-migration

► Open conflictOpen conflict two failed referenda on sovereigntytwo failed referenda on sovereignty several unresolved constitutional battlesseveral unresolved constitutional battles rise of the nationalist Parti Québécoisrise of the nationalist Parti Québécois a spate of laws supporting “Francisation”a spate of laws supporting “Francisation”

1995 Referendum1995 Referendum

What is the meaning of the What is the meaning of the “sovereignty” movement?“sovereignty” movement?

►To redress historical wrongsTo redress historical wrongs►To earn recognition as a “distinct To earn recognition as a “distinct

society”society”►To achieve autonomy in areas like To achieve autonomy in areas like

media regulation and immigration media regulation and immigration policypolicy

►To perpetuate French culture in North To perpetuate French culture in North AmericaAmerica

Law 101, of 1977Law 101, of 1977

►most famous of many language laws signed most famous of many language laws signed into law under the P.Q.into law under the P.Q.

► had three objectives:had three objectives: restrict outdoor signage to Frenchrestrict outdoor signage to French designate French as the official language of all designate French as the official language of all

workplaces in Quebecworkplaces in Quebec ensure that children of immigrants to Quebec will ensure that children of immigrants to Quebec will

be educated in Frenchbe educated in French

►was softened by constitutional challenges, was softened by constitutional challenges, but remains largely intactbut remains largely intact

Three signs in the Montreal Three signs in the Montreal area, one controversyarea, one controversy

STOP

ARRÊT

ARRÊTSTOP

Regulation of SignageRegulation of Signage

► General perception of Francophones: a General perception of Francophones: a worthwhile projectworthwhile project

► General perception by Anglophones: vindictive General perception by Anglophones: vindictive and pointless regulationand pointless regulation confusing eradication of the apostrophe: Joe’s confusing eradication of the apostrophe: Joe’s Joes Joes confusing bilingual signs: “Av. Sherbrooke Ave.”confusing bilingual signs: “Av. Sherbrooke Ave.”

► Richard Y. Bourhis (Psychology, UQAM)Richard Y. Bourhis (Psychology, UQAM) linguistic landscape is the strongest predictor of linguistic landscape is the strongest predictor of

people’s perceptions of ethnolinguistic vitalitypeople’s perceptions of ethnolinguistic vitality so the sign law serves a purpose, whether or not it’s so the sign law serves a purpose, whether or not it’s

a purpose the Anglophones understand or supporta purpose the Anglophones understand or support

The only English signs are relics The only English signs are relics of an earlier eraof an earlier era

Immigrant zones are key sites of Immigrant zones are key sites of linguistic strugglelinguistic struggle

Why did Quebec lose in Why did Quebec lose in 1995?1995?

► Jacques Parizeau (Quebec’s premier): Jacques Parizeau (Quebec’s premier): “It’s true that we were beaten, but by “It’s true that we were beaten, but by what? Money and ethnic votes.”what? Money and ethnic votes.”

►Universally recognized as a tasteless Universally recognized as a tasteless expression of anger, and a political expression of anger, and a political gaffegaffe

Other signs of ethnic division in Other signs of ethnic division in the Montreal urban landscapethe Montreal urban landscape

►French: dense, urban, French: dense, urban, stone/brick/concrete, sociable, stone/brick/concrete, sociable, prioritizes chance encounters and the prioritizes chance encounters and the sense of communitysense of community

►English: serene, suburban (lawns), English: serene, suburban (lawns), dignified, prioritizes the protection of dignified, prioritizes the protection of personal and familial privacypersonal and familial privacy

►Other ethnicities: conforms to English Other ethnicities: conforms to English or French standard, though Italians or French standard, though Italians have a special stylehave a special style

French French districts: e.g. districts: e.g. Plateau-Mont-Plateau-Mont-

RoyalRoyal

English districts:English districts:

e.g. a street in Westmounte.g. a street in Westmount

Italian row houses in LasalleItalian row houses in Lasalle

A quiet, civilized A quiet, civilized afternoon, afternoon,

lawn bowling in lawn bowling in WestmountWestmount

A less civilized pass-time,A less civilized pass-time,

shopping at Marché Jean-shopping at Marché Jean-TalonTalon

The Zone of The Zone of Linguistic Confusion Linguistic Confusion

(Z.L.C.)(Z.L.C.)

Virtually all of Montreal’s tourist Virtually all of Montreal’s tourist zone, plus the contact zone zone, plus the contact zone between East Island & West between East Island & West

IslandIsland

nominally

Anglophoneno

min

ally

Fran

coph

one

Z.L.C.

The zone of linguistic confusionThe zone of linguistic confusion(Place d’Armes)(Place d’Armes)

The zone of linguistic confusionThe zone of linguistic confusion(la Vieux Porte)(la Vieux Porte)

The zone of linguistic confusionThe zone of linguistic confusion(Gare Central)(Gare Central)

The zone of linguistic confusionThe zone of linguistic confusion(the Métro and Parc Mont Royal)(the Métro and Parc Mont Royal)

The zone of linguistic confusionThe zone of linguistic confusion(Sherbrooke St. to The Village)(Sherbrooke St. to The Village)

MAIN POINTS SO FARMAIN POINTS SO FAR► Montreal’s linguistic landscape can feel Montreal’s linguistic landscape can feel

chaotic to a visitor, particularly since the chaotic to a visitor, particularly since the tourist zones are in the Z.L.C.tourist zones are in the Z.L.C.

► This chaos reflects history and geographyThis chaos reflects history and geography Rise, fall, and resurrection of French control of Rise, fall, and resurrection of French control of

QuebecQuebec Montreal as an island in an island (linguistically Montreal as an island in an island (linguistically

speaking)speaking) centripetal and centrifugal forcescentripetal and centrifugal forces

► ““Allophone” populations add to the complexityAllophone” populations add to the complexity► Political struggle over language adds to the Political struggle over language adds to the

tensiontension

Nevertheless, most Nevertheless, most Montrealers wouldn’t Montrealers wouldn’t want to live anywhere want to live anywhere

elseelse

What accounts for the magic What accounts for the magic of this city? of this city?

Why do people fall in love Why do people fall in love with it?with it?

Concluding ThoughtsConcluding Thoughts

►The key may lie in the role played by The key may lie in the role played by Montreal’s abundant public spacesMontreal’s abundant public spaces pedestrian streetspedestrian streets greenspacegreenspace parksparks squaressquares ““underground city”underground city”

►The “Other” can never be truly a The “Other” can never be truly a stranger in this kind of citystranger in this kind of city

GreenspaceGreenspace

Great GreenspacesGreat Greenspaces

►Parc Mont Royal: 494 acres Parc Mont Royal: 494 acres (just over half the size of Central Park, NY, (just over half the size of Central Park, NY,

but bigger than Zilker Park)but bigger than Zilker Park)► Île St. Hélène: 336 acres (1/2 = fill)Île St. Hélène: 336 acres (1/2 = fill)►Parc Angrignon: 200 acresParc Angrignon: 200 acres► Île Notre Dame, Parc Maisonneuve, Île Notre Dame, Parc Maisonneuve,

Botanical Gardens, banks of the Canal Botanical Gardens, banks of the Canal de Lachine, banks of the St. Lawrence, de Lachine, banks of the St. Lawrence, etc.etc.

► includes 67 miles of bike pathsincludes 67 miles of bike paths

Underground CityUnderground City

► 18 miles of interconnected spaces18 miles of interconnected spaces► linked via the Métrolinked via the Métro► provides access to:provides access to:

shoppingshopping office buildingsoffice buildings indoor skating rinkindoor skating rink hotelshotels restaurants & cafésrestaurants & cafés four universitiesfour universities Montreal’s main performing arts centerMontreal’s main performing arts center

Underground CityUnderground City

The dense urban fabric The dense urban fabric encourages communication encourages communication

across political linesacross political lines

Could these spaces Could these spaces be the “glue” that be the “glue” that

holds it all together?holds it all together?