Identity and Culture in Canada - Article Example

IDENTITY AND CULTURE IN CANADA Understanding the deep meaning behind a culture’s beliefs or practices would be impossible without knowing the language that people use in that culture. Words that cannot be translated are one of the many examples, showing the link between cultures and languages. Language is fundamental in a society because it allows human beings to communicate. It is not only a means of communication, but a part of people’s culture. Language as a communication tool is an idea that has existed for long. A great Soviet psychologist called Lev Vygotsky is one of the many people in history to claim that language has always been in existence.1 An ancient historian such as Aristotle also argued that language has always been in existence for more than 2,300 years.2 Though different societies still continue to debate whether culture has an influence on people, there is no doubt that there is a close link between cultures and languages. While language has always been a powerful symbol of identity in a culture, the fear of the language dying or a community being weakened has always created communication breakdowns, such as the case in Canada. I. a. Origin of French Language in Canada One of the best ways to understand the connection between languages and societies would be to look at multinational societies. For example, one of the multinational societies which has a traditional case for changing cultural dynamics is Canada.3 In a country like Canada, the linguistic landscapes are ever-changing because of the increasing rate of immigrants. In addition, it continues to change because the linguistic landscape new changes in digital technologies and language practices.4 For example, in Canada, the population statistics from the government show that there is an increase in the rate of bilingualism in most provinces except for a few.5 b. Identity of languages and cultures in Canada In the last few years, the public opinion of people in Canada has become highly sensitized when it comes to issues of language and culture. Such sensitivity emerged as a result of the government’s ongoing attempt to have the country embracing a national identity suitable for all the diverse groups in Canada. This continues to result to cultural groups that experience language loss and language learning. According to Conrick and Regan, some of the most common mother tongues in Canada, other than English are French, Spanish, Italian and Arabic.6 There is also a notable difference in the rates between Quebec’s bilingualism and that of the other states in Canada.7 Quebec is now known to be one of the most bilingual provinces in Canada, showing a rate of 40.8%. Nonetheless, the fault lines existing in Canadian language politics seems emerge from diverse groups in Canada which are not evenly distributed in all of its provinces. These are diverse groups with different linguistic, racial and cultural differences. Therefore, the promotion of language policies and implementation is one of Canada’s techniques of dealing with communication problems and conflicts between diverse groups in Canada. II. a. History of French Language Protections in Canada In Canada, evolution of the French was not an easy one. French has always been the mother tongue of many people, estimated at more than 6,000 000 based on the 1986 statistics on population census in Canada.8 According to Anne Brown the British conquered French colonies found in New France in 1759 when there was a 7 year’s war.9 As a result, the province of Quebec got formed after there was a treaty of Paris which was later given to the British. After formation of Quebec it was later divided into two sides. These were the British Upper side of Canada and the other was the lower side of Canada, dominated largely by the French. This separation meant that there would be a boundary created which to keep each side away from the other. However, there were still ethnic conflicts between the two cultures since British business merchants were still in control of the legislative councils in Lower Canada.10 In addition, there were a lot of tensions from the administrative blocks, linguistic problems and too much political influence on one group. There was a rebellion in 1873, boycotted by the French against the imports from British merchants. The two provinces that were once separated are now provinces of Ontario and Quebec. It was only by 1960s that the French-Canadians were lucky to gain their rights such as talking in their own language.11 Research from Bourhis provides the evidence that shows the assimilation of French language into the Canadian culture was not an easy task.12 For example, on page 120, the author is quick to note that the immigrant enrolments particularly in the English-Language sector in Canada, in 10 years ago showed that the school systems did not enrol many French students. As a result, the prospects of the French immigrants integrating into the society easily were not happening. However, today, the French population is easily assimilated into the society as compared to other cultures such as the Africans, Aboriginals, Arabs or Asians. On page 121 of Brown’s article, it is evident that from 2002 to year 2007, the enrolment of students with French as their mother tongue improved to 80%. This is an indication that over the years, The French language continues to be easily assimilated in Canada. b. Should languages be protected by the constitution? Creation of language-based school commissions in Canada that focuses on offering students with a schooling system in French or English would not be possible if it were not for the language protections implementation.13 To some Canadians, this constitutional change has promoted peace and the learning other people’s languages and cultures. However, to others, the language protection policies have only promoted inequality because of loss of certain languages and cultures. Those who argue in favour of languages being protected by the constitution believe that it promotes language education. In addition, some Canadians’ opinion is that the policies are a step towards promoting language-exchange efforts not only in elementary and secondary school systems but also when people go for public job services. The other benefit is that it has led to the increase of bilingual officials not only in certain provinces of Canada, but in all.14 It also facilitates expansion of post-secondary opportunities in jobs and attending colleges for the minority groups. Language protections in Canada also help the English-speaking public members to learn how to embrace that the minorities have their rights.15 The policies also ensure that the minority groups get educated on a mass scale, not only those who can afford. In the long-run it ensures that the education system in Canada improves and the population becomes more productive and less prone problems that come as a result of getting little education and no jobs.16 In addition having language protections in the constitution ensures there is transparency in Canada’s political system. As for critics or those who do not argue in favour of language protections by the constitution, most cite several reasons. One of the problems is that for other minority groups who are not French or British-Canadians, they are likely to assume the government has left them out and is not addressing their needs. The other argument against language protections in Canada is that the issues affecting language protections have political influences. The problem is that when politics mixes with issues of culture and languages, it may never promote peace between those minority groups that assume they are underrepresented.17 c. The issue of language identity in Canada Today, Canada faces challenges that most countries in Europe do not face.18 The challenge of integrating so many immigrants from many parts of the world is a daunting task. Issues arise because one, the first generation of immigrants in Canada makes up a total population of only a small percentage. This is also the group that wants to retain the political force in the country. Given that Canada is a multinational state it also becomes difficult this group to retain their force since new immigrants are always migrating to Canada.19 The divide mentioned earlier in this paper, between the French and the English-speaking Canadians has always affected the politics to the point that the Francophone Quebecers always view themselves as a minority group that is within Canada. Such problems are the chief causes of language issues in Canada.20 According to the Post Media News, there are more than 200 languages which the Canadian census reported in its 2011 report. From this news report, it is clear that there are so many languages in Canada, that the two million people do not necessarily speak the official languages which are French and English. According to Berdahl and Gibbins the linguistic diversity existing in Canada does not reflect on the country’s bilingual status for its two official languages.21 For most Canadians, they use other languages or their mother tongue when people at home with their families. Canada has always had issues related to national identity. The traditional idea of nationalism in Canada was always a hindrance to ensuring that Quebec was also identified as part of Canada. This occurred many years ago, a time when the Catholic tradition in Canada did not want to associate with the French Canadians.22 This is only one of the many things that frustrated the French-Canadian nationals. For most of them, the rest of Canada had sidelined them, so their next step was to have Quebec becoming a provincial government with its own policies. Today, the issues that are plaguing the identity formation of immigrant children who are in Quebec continue to resemble the problems that the English-majority faces in bigger provinces in Canada. Such power imbalances in Canada are the reasons contributing to the language identity issues. The tension between the immigrants and the native groups in Canada continue to affect the socialization process.23 The use of French as the goal creates a risky situation where new immigrants and their children perceive rejection of English language as a form of rejection for certain languages in Canada. The problem with this is that it creates tensions. d. Recommendations on how to avoid language wars in Canada One of the most recommended actions that Canada should embrace is to love and respect each group’s culture and language. The two official languages may remain the same. However, if there is little friction created by judicial, school or work systems that want to retail only English or the other, French, most people in Canada will learn to see each other’s cultures as unique and important. It would also be necessary to have adult immigrants learning French and English, not only for purposes of reading newspapers and other governmental documents, but for the purpose of promoting a single identity. It is also necessary to have schools in Canada or in Quebec adopting school programs that support the idea of cultural-school weekends where students from different cultural backgrounds come together and share their views, language and cultural beliefs. This is one of the best techniques to ensure that the children of immigrant workers in the state develop the patience and positive ideas regarding people who do not look like them.24 The French language protection is definitely working as it should in Canada. There are more French speakers in Canada, that there were before. For example, the federal government at the state has gone to extra lengths to ensure that the official policies on linguistics are there. This allows people to use both languages, thereby promoting similar language rights in places like the library, schools and at work.25 For Canada to continue being a successful country in regard to its economic status, it is necessary for all the groups to anticipate that there will be challenges which they will face as more immigrants come in. Canadians will need new techniques of learning especially for those who are in schools of higher education so that they can easily fit in the evolving Canadian society. The Aboriginal people in Canada should also not be let out when embracing the cultures of all the other immigrants. This should be easy to perform with the introduction of new technologies. III. Conclusion As noted in the beginning of this paper, language is a critical component in a society and its culture. It is not only a way in which people communicate, but it also forms or identifies the society’s culture. From the Post News, the number and proportion of the Canadians who are in a position to talk in both French and English continues to reduce and as a result, communication breakdowns in school, political or work settings continue to emerge.26 Though there are those who believe that the language wars can only end when Quebec gets separated from Canada, It is my view that is not really necessary. Protecting the French-speaking societies such as Quebec is still possible without necessarily having to eradicate those groups that are already near. As noted before, language is a powerful symbol particularly when it comes to identifying a culture. Though there is a fear of the language dying or the society where gets introduced becomes weak, it is the only way to get rid of communication breakdowns in societies like Canada. Bibliography Banting, Keith, and Stuart Soroka. "Minority nationalism and immigrant integration in Canada." Journal of the Association for the study of ethnicity and nationalism. no. 1 (2012): 156-176. 10.1111/j.1469-8129.2011.00535.x Berdahl, Loleen, and Roger Gibbins. Looking West: Regional Transformation and the Future of Canada. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2014. Bourhis, Richard. "Decline and Prospects of the English-Speaking Communities of Quebec."Canadian Heritage Journal. (2012): 21-296. Brohy, Claudine, and Theodorus Plessis. Law, Language and the Multilingual State. Stellenbosch, SA: African SUN MeDIA, 2012. Brown, Anna. "Victor‐Lévy Beaulieu and Québecs Linguistic and Cultural Identity Struggle."McNair Scholary Journal. no. 1 (2009): 1-31. 10.15760/mcnair.2009.25 Clark, Julie, Callie Mady, and Adrienne Vanthuyne. "Exploring Reflexivity and Multilingualism in Three French Language Teacher Education Programs." The Canadian Journal of Applied Linguistics. no. 1 (2014): 129-155. Conrick, Maeve, and Vera Regan. French in Canada: Language Issues. Bern, Switzerland: Peter Lang Publishers, 2007. Everett, Daniel. Language: The Cultural Tool. London: Profile Books, 2012. Harrison, Trevor, and John Friesen. Canadian Society in the Twenty-first Century: An Historical Sociological Approach. Toronto: Canadian Scholars’ Press, 2010. http://goo.gl/Jlx9Yq Lecours, André. "Multinationalism and Accommodation: Analysis of a Canadian Success." School of Political Studies Journal. no. 1 (2012): 3-19. Library of Parliament. "Language Regimes in the provinces and territories." Parliamentary information and Research service. (2011): 1-5 Marger, Martin. Race and Ethnic Relations: American and Global Perspectives. Boston, MA: Cengage Learning, 2011. Morris, Michael. Canadian Language Policies in Comparative Perspective. Montreal, QC: McGill-Queens University Press, 2010. PostMedia News. "Canada Census: One in five speaks a foreign language at home." PostMedia News, 2012 24, Oct. http://news.nationalpost.com/2012/10/24/canada-census-one-in-five-speaks-a-foreign-language-at-home/ Schmid, Carol. The Politics of Language : Conflict, Identity, and Cultural Pluralism in Comparative Perspective: Conflict, Identity, and Cultural Pluralism in Comparative Perspective. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2001. Senik, Claudia. "The French Unhappiness Puzzle: The Cultural Dimension of Happiness." The Institute for the Study of Labor Paper. (2011): 2-43. Williams, Colin. Minority Language Promotion, Protection and Regulation: The Mask of Piety Language and Globalization. Basingstoke, London: Palgrave Macmillan, 2013. Read More