Canada is a state in North America that brings together diverse cultures and languages. The country ranks second after Russia in its territory.
The relevance of the issue in the modern world
Every year, not even thousands, but hundreds of thousands of travelers come here. Some of them seek to get acquainted with local culture and traditions, and someone needs to visit relatives. There are those who have decided to move here forever.
What language is spoken in Canada? The answer to this question is usually of interest to each of the above categories.
It so happened that English and French have official status in the country. Although it should be noted that most of the population use only one of these languages for communication.
Variety of dialects of a large northern country
“In Canada they speak English,” many will immediately say. And then they think: “Or maybe not, it seems that French is also popular there.” As a matter of fact, this is the whole point. The country is huge, it is inhabited by completely different people, which means that there is nothing surprising in the fact that there can be several languages.
Residents of many regions of Canada use mostly English, which is a mixture of American and British pronunciation. Often, everyday words from the British dialect may not be clear to the American. And some terms are pronounced by the English-speaking population with an inherent American accent. In the provinces of the Atlantic coast, several types of English accents are used in speech. Linguists believe that this is connected historically. In the past, fishing and hunting communities in this region led a separate life and had virtually no connection with other settlements.
In Montreal and Vancouver, where many Chinese migrants live, you can often hear Chinese conversation. Canadians who speak fluent English are exempted from taking exams in French. Despite this, most learn it on their own because of the need for business communication or for personal reasons. In Canada, many foreign languages have a priority in learning. Especially popular are Spanish and German. It turns out that the unequivocal answer to the question of what language is spoken in Canada is even more difficult than originally intended.
Features of local bilingualism
To date, the number of French-speaking Canadians has exceeded seven million people, which is almost a quarter of the total population. A special place is occupied by the province of Quebec, where preference is given specifically to the French language, and whose inhabitants have long been trying to give it the status of the main one. Moreover, this desire is so great that in recent years more and more often at the homes of local residents you can notice a slightly modified flag of the country, combining Canadian and French.
French-speaking regions also include the northeastern lands of Lake Ontario, the area near the city of Winnipeg and part of the metropolitan area near Ottawa. That is, it turns out that in Canada many, an impressive part of the country's population speak French.
Bilingualism in Canada dates back to the time of the historical ties between England and France, which fought for the colonization of these places. Both languages were simply necessary for merchants to develop market relations. Interestingly, bilingualism is more common in those provinces where French-speaking residents live. Moreover, it is interesting that all Canadians should be fluent in English, but at the same time, English-speaking citizens do not have to learn French.
Rules for expats
“What language is spoken in Canada? Which one to study first? ” - These issues are most important for those who decide to move to Canada for permanent residence. And not in vain, because once there, you will need to not only communicate with the local population, but also work, providing materially for yourself and your family members.
Officially, bilingualism is recognized in Canada, but only more than 15% can communicate in two languages. The government is making every effort to develop bilingualism in the country.
- Paperwork is conducted in two languages.
- Civil servants and media employees should be able to communicate in state languages.
- Many English-speaking Canadians prefer to choose schools for their children in English and French.
Most migrants arriving in permanent residence in the French-speaking areas of Canada may encounter confusion when communicating. That classic French, which is studied in Russia, differs significantly from the local one.
This language barrier is difficult at first to overcome without knowledge of English. Many have to learn the French language again. And for this, all conditions are created. The further development of bilingualism has great prospects and gives more opportunities.
It turns out that the question of what language is spoken in Canada is, in principle, not entirely correct. It would be more correct to ask about which languages you need to know in order to feel comfortable in this country. Yes, yes, that's right, initially in the plural, otherwise it just won’t work.