Quebecois officials are planning a "language offensive" to define Quebec's national language as French. Adding an amendment to Canada's Official Languages Act would bring about the change, which would compel federal agencies in Quebec that operate in English to switch to French. Quebecois leader Giles Duceppe recently told students in a speech that "the federal government's recent recognition of Quebec as a nation is nothing more than words because it has not been translated into concrete actions." Thus, by switching the 'national' language of Quebec to French, it allows Quebec another barrier to differentiate itself from Canada, further defining it as an independent nation.
From an international perspective, this is a very interesting move by the Quebecois Party. It is true that official language differences provide barriers that separate nations from eachother, especially in Europe, where cultures and states are defined around their languages (for example: in the Balkans, Serbia vs. Hungary, or in the Benelux nations, Belgium vs. the Netherlands). However, a different language is not the defining attribute that separates two nation-states from eachother. Many nations (such as the US, the Philippines, or China) are either pluralistic or traditionally fragmented enough that different areas within them function in seperate languages. However, this doesn't create seperate nations or even federally-recognized states within the nations. The importance of language to the separation of Quebec from Canada is a clear indicator of the role language plays in Canadian culture.
Right now, Ottowa refuses to recognize Quebec's Charter of the French Language, which is a major obstacle in becoming what Duceppe calls a "francophone nation." However, Prime Minister Stephen Harper has made promises to Quebec about its separation. "It is just words," Duceppe said. "We want more than words. I challenge Stephen Harper today to say he is ready, Yes or No, to recognize the primacy of French in Quebec? Is he ready to go from statements to acts? I am waiting for an answer and in French please."
It's amazing that language alone can construct legal boundaries. Nations are, ultimately, founded on basically arbitrary qualities. It is rare that a nation is formed along serious geographic or racial boundaries. Borders are normally established for abstract, more arbitrary reasons, such as historical expansion, contraction, and division of societies along ideological lines. Language is one of the arbitrary qualities that allow nations to define themselves as seperate. However, ultimately, language is just that: arbitrary. It doesn't usually reflect any real distinction between people. Though many Quebec citizens are probably French-descended, unlike many other Canadians, the language difference is not an intrinsic quality. Thus, people can group together as a society around language alone and use that to define themselves as a nation-state. It is incredible that a choice in parlance is the foundation for culture, personal identity, and, ultimately, citizenship.
article at: http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/news/story.html?id=0949e62e-e8f6-4f3c-87f3-668d745f3131&k=57600
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2 comments:
While reading, I was thinking about how geography plays such an integral role in this situation. In order to gain independence of identity or structure, one generally thinks of one entity at odds with another, such as Quebec and Canada, the thirteen colonies and Great Britain, etc. In most situations, there are distinct boundaries between the two entities already. Money and power are also important factors when considering whether or not success will be achieved.
Is it possible for Quebec to achieve success? Is there any stopping point? Or will it continue until it is one hundred percent independent and set apart from Canada, in politics and in culture?
Great post and great discussion. This is a really important issue that is not only playing out in Canada, but in many other countries as well (check out what other people have posted about similar situations in some Asian countries!)
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