AngryFrenchGuy

4 Responses

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1. Hmmm… I would argue that “Consumers of goods and services have a right to be informed and served in French,” implicitly advocates the eradication of English-only service. A consumer with a right to service in French won’t get it from an English-only establishment/service provider.

   However, there’s a big difference between eradicating English-ONLY service, and eradicating the English language. I think it’s in the best interest of every establishment/service provider, to offer bilingual service, in order to serve the widest possible clientèle. Bilingualism (or multilingualism – not uncommon in Montréal) is an asset, and that’s true for both mother-tongue francophones as much as it is for mother-tongue anglophones.

   

   Dave

   January 24, 2008 at 4:02 pm
2. It is also an assimilationist force. You don’t need to be bilingual to serve someone in English in a store or restaurant. How many of us have travelled to Europe and have been served adequately in English by people who hardly speak the language?

   

   Eric Grenier

   January 25, 2008 at 11:30 am
3. i know this is anecdotal – but i’ll share it with you anyway.

   last august in paris – every – yes every – cafe we stopped in had a waiter switch to english after having started to order in french – in order to show hospitality. they loved my accent when i spoke in french – i loved their accent when they spoke in english – warm, charming and made me feel very welcome.

   what’s that got to do with montreal? nothing.

   in the countryside near angers (dept. loire) – zero english.

   do i care? what do you think?

   do i worry about quebec? yes inasmuch as i cannot see much hope of a future under a narrow socialist/nationalist regime.

   you have lots of energy and if you were really concerned about quebec – i should think you would be trying to figure out what’s the next step for the individuals whose lives have been affected by what’s happening in the forestry industry.

   assimilationist? let’s not throw stones in glass houses.

   at one point – i thought you were serious in promoting dialogue – oh yeah – i’m naive.

   you’re not second-class citizens – you’re just third rate bloggers. j’accuse. oui – vous autres. dilettantes.

   

   johnnyonline

   January 26, 2008 at 12:48 am
4. So in Paris the waiters switch languages to accommodate their customers.

   In Montreal it’s the customers who are expected to switch to the waiter’s language.

   And they say the French are the rude ones?

   

   angryfrenchguy

   January 28, 2008 at 12:05 am

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