Table of Contents
How is Canadian French different from French?
Canadian French has a more nasal intonation, leading to a shift in vowel sounds. An sounds more like in. In terms of consonants, ‘r’ has a trilled pronunciation in Continental French. Some French Canadians follow this (particularly in Québec), whilst others pronounce a flatter, more uvular ‘r’ sound.
What is French Joual?
Joual (French pronunciation: [ʒwal]) is an accepted name for the linguistic features of basilectal Quebec French that are associated with the French-speaking working class in Montreal which has become a symbol of national identity for some. Joual is stigmatized by some and celebrated by others.
Is there a difference between Quebec French and France French?
Québécois (someone from Québec) and Français (someone from France) share the same basic grammatical rules, so if someone from Canada and someone from France were both to write the same letter, the letter would read exactly the same due to both of them using standard French in writing.
Where does the word Joual come from?
The word joual comes from a rural or working-class pronunciation of cheval (horse). It originally functioned as an adverb, used exclusively in the expression parler joual (much like in parler bête and parler franc). Prior to 1960, it referred to speaking in an inarticulate, incorrect or unintelligible manner.
Where is Joual spoken?
Quebec
Joual (pronounced zhoo-AHL) is the unique slang spoken on the streets of urban Quebec, especially in Montreal.
Do people from Quebec call themselves French?
listen)), Quebecois (fem.: Quebecoise), or Québecois (fem.: Québecoise) is a word used primarily to refer to a native or inhabitant of the Canadian province of Quebec that speaks French as a mother tongue; sometimes, it is used more generally to refer to any native or inhabitant of Quebec.
What is the difference between French and Canadian swear words?
French Canadians consider words like tabernak (tabernacle), calvaire (Calvary) and câlisse (chalice) stronger profanities than the usual collection of swearwords based on sex and excrement in most other languages. Another difference is in the use of loanwords.
Can Canadians understand the French in France?
Canadian French speakers can easily understand the French spoken in France (Metropolitan French) since formal Quebecois French is quite similar. But the problem for European French speakers comes when Canadians speak a more colloquial version of their language. That’s when the differences become most apparent.
Is it difficult to learn Quebecois French in Canada?
Even native French-speakers from France can find Canadian French quite a challenge at first. If you have a good level of French but you’ve never heard Quebecois French before, look up Têtes á claques on YouTube and you’ll see what I mean.
Why is there so much controversy over Canadian French in Quebec?
The controversy over Canadian French in Quebec runs deeper than fussing over menus, though. While it is understandable that people have a desire to protect their language, many say that by over-legislating, the authorities are actually putting young people at a disadvantage.