The Sociological Aspects of Language in Quebec - Literature review Example

Canadian Society Newspaper Research Assignment Introduction The use of sociology for explaining the national policies of s is a common practice.In fact, sociology can help to reveal the actual willing of legislators when promoting a particular rule. At this point the following question often appears: how would the social ethics and practices of a nation be combined with a particular sociological framework so that appropriate assumptions are produced? Reference is made specifically to those sociological concepts that are used for interpreting and evaluating various national policies. In Canada such issue seems to exist. For quite a long period of time the above state faces the following dilemma: nationalism needs to be adequately supported so that national integration is not threatened. Still, it has been proved that such efforts are not welcomed by all parts of the population, at least those social groups that are differentiated from the majority of the population in terms of specific sociological characteristics, such as language and culture. An article published recently in National Post is used for explaining the sociological aspects of languages spoken in a specific part of Canada: Quebec. Effort is made to identify whether differences in languages spoken can affect the social life and national identity of local population. The sociological aspects of language in Quebec, Canada Sociology is closely related to the social ethics of each society. In fact, the concept known as ‘ideological congruence’ (Breton and Breton 30) reflects the following fact: ‘values and ethics in a specific society influence the ways in which sociology is practiced’ (Breton and Breton 30). This means that sociological concepts can vary depending on the local ethics and culture. The above fact needs to be taken into consideration when evaluating the sociological aspects of language in Quebec. Before interpreting language in Quebec as of its sociological contexts it would be necessary to highlight the following fact: in Canada the use of French-Canadian sociology for explaining social issues and events ‘goes far to the end of the 19th century but it was only in 1940s that sociology was incorporated in Francophone universities’ (Cornfield and Hodson 51). According to a more detailed explanation of the development of sociology in Quebec, Fournier notes that in the particular region three different periods related to the development of sociology can be identified: a) the pre-1939 period, where emphasis is given to the ethnic characteristics of the region (Harrison and Friesen 65), b) from 1940 up to 1969, where sociology focused on the ‘transition of Quebec from a traditional to a modern society’ (Harrison and Friesen 65) and c) from 1970s onwards where reference is made in particular to the distinctive characteristics of the region compared to other regions of Canada; due to these characteristics, Quebec is also known as ‘a sociological nation’ (Harrison and Friesen 65). It is due this period, from 1970s onwards, that the national identity of Quebec is shaped (Harrison and Friesen 65). In this context it would be rather difficult for certain theorists to identify all sociological aspects of social issues related to daily life of Francophones in Canada. For Quebec, the above issue would be quite important: the use of sociology for explaining the sociological aspects of language would be possibly problematic due to the lack of sufficient material to support the relevant arguments. The linguistic trends of people in Quebec could be understood by referring to the study of Langlois (1991). The above researcher highlights the changes in regard to the linguistic stratification among Francophones in Quebec (Langlois 211). Indeed, it seems that from 1935 up to 1964 a significant part of the population started to use language not just as a linguistic characteristic but also as an indicator of ethnicity (Langlois 211). In other words, for Francophones in Quebec, language has become a tool for indicating their uniqueness, ‘both as a social class and an ethic class’ (Langlois 211). This trend has been extensively analyzed by sociologists working on the interpretation of linguistic trends across Quebec. In order to understand the linguistic trends, as appeared in Quebec, it would be necessary to refer to the region’s history, especially in regard to immigration and birth rate. According to Harrison and Friesen (2010) Quebec has been traditionally a region where the influence of Francophones has been quite strong, since they have always represented the high majority of population (Harrison and Friesen 42). However, in the post-industrialization period, the region has faced strong social and economic changes, a fact related to the decline in birth rate and the entrance of thousands of foreigners who saw Canada, and Quebec, as a promising market (Harrison and Friesen 42). Gradually, conflicts have appeared between Francophones and those speaking other languages, especially English (Dobuzinskis, Laycock and Howlett 36). Sociology, which by that period had already entered Francophone Universities, of 1960s in Quebec reflected the above problem (Dobuzinskis, Laycock and Howlett 36). More specifically, since 1960s the conflicts between Francophone sociologists and Anglophone sociologists have become quite strong (Dobuzinskis, Laycock and Howlett 36). These conflicts were mostly based on nationalism, which for Francophone Quebecois is of critical value, not only in regard to language but to all aspects of social and political life (Dobuzinskis, Laycock and Howlett 36). At the next level, language in Quebec has become a tool for promoting the region’s nationalism (Dobuzinskis, Laycock and Howlett 36). The part of the population that would be able to impose the use of its language it would have the control of the region in terms of politics and economy, a view that is verified through the issues discussed above. In Quebec language has become a key part of politics. In fact, in the particular region language communities have been developed for supporting the superiority of their language (Ricento and Burnaby 12). Through the years these communities have increased their power at such level that they have become able to influence government’s decisions in regard to Quebec (Ricento and Burnaby 12). Currently, Francophones represent the high percentage of the population (Ricento and Burnaby 12). Still, the exclusive use of French language in certain sectors, for example in public services, has caused turbulences due to the need for covering ‘community needs in regard to language maintenance’ (Ricento and Burnaby 12). The promotion of French language in Quebec seems to be fair, taking into consideration the area’s history, but there is the following problem: the actual needs of community require the use of other languages also, especially English, a fact that needs to be taken into consideration by policy makers and local authorities (Ricento and Burnaby 12). Apart from its actual role, as one of the region’s cultural characteristics, language in Quebec has become ‘a key institution of civil society’ (McCrone 135). This means that language in Quebec is also used for explaining various social and political events (McCrone 135). From this point of view, language in Quebec is valuable for sociology. It should be noted that Quebec has managed to keep its distinctive cultural characteristics, including language, by developing a high network of institutions and non-governmental organizations the operation of which is aligned with the region’s distinctive cultural characteristics (McCrone 135). In this way, Quebec has become partially independent from federal organizations (McCrone 135). In other words, in Quebec cultural nationalism has highly supported political nationalism (McCrone 135). In the long term, the relationship between cultural nationalism and political nationalism in Quebec could lead to the complete independency of the region from Canada, in a similar context as in the case of Scotland (McCrone). Political nationalism in the above case is not aligned with the common nationalism, but it is more close to the concept of regionalism which is highly developed in Quebec. Abu-Lughod (2000) notes that in Quebec language has become the key point of conflict between locals. Francophones are the high majority, compared to Anglophones, and have managed to promote their ethics and culture (Abu-Lughod 185). In other words, in Quebec language has been used for the promotion of culture, and not vice-versa as commonly. It should be mentioned that the country’s Constitution (1867), has the key responsibility for the increased cultural conflicts in many regions of Canada (Abu-Lughod 185). The particular Constitution focused on keeping the balance between ‘the competing interests of elites’ (Abu-Lughod 185). The differences in terms of culture and ethnicity, as existed in many parts of the Canadian province, were not addressed (Abu-Lughod 185). Language kept these differences strong leading to severe cultural and social conflicts up today (Abu-Lughod 185). According to the above, the power of language to intervene in the cultural and political life of people in Quebec is the result of gaps in the Canadian Constitution. The important role of language in the development of political, social and economic life of Quebec has been explained by theorists using different approaches. For example, Haque (2012) focuses on the use of English and French as tools for promoting the interests of the two major communities in Quebec: of the Anglophones and the Francophones (Haque 115). It is further noted that all other immigrants, to Quebec, apart from English and French, for example German or Polish, have not been able to establish their own communities and they had to conform to the rules of these two communities: Francophones and Anglophones (Haque 115). In other words, in Quebec language has been a tool for promoting specific social and political rules. At the next level, Bottomore (2012) emphasizes on the use of linguistic characteristics for the development of specific political framework. Reference is made to Francophones in Quebec who have used their language for supporting the increase of nationalism, reaching the level of separatism from federal government (Bottomore 152). Nash (2010) explains that in Quebec powers are contributed in such way that the development of initiatives related to language and ethnicity is available (Nash 166). More specifically, quite early people in Quebec have managed to achieve a system of local governance that offers to local authorities increased powers regarding ‘language, education and culture’ (Nash 166). Still, these powers have been given only to two particular communities: Anglophones and Francophones, a fact that further verifies the increased power of language in influencing the social and political life of people in Quebec (Nash 166). Moreover, Kosel (2010) notes that in Quebec language is used as a criterion for establishing communities: for example, reference is made to the ‘French-speaking society in Quebec, a society that it is distinct within Quebec’ (Kosel 18). In other words, in Quebec language is used for identifying the position and the rights of people within society; this fact gives to language increased power in setting social and political rules. Newspaper article analysis The article chosen is presented as an analysis. More specifically, in the particular article information is provided in regard to the languages spoken in Quebec. The relevant percentages are divided into two major categories: the mother tongue and the language used at home. In both categories, French is positioned first, with significant difference from the second language used in Quebec, English. The article proceeds to a further analysis of the figures included in the 2011 census data, as related to languages spoken in Quebec. Comparison is made between similar data related to Canada in general, in order to show the different linguistic trends developed in Canada compared to a particular province, Quebec. As it is structured, the article seems to address an extensive audience. The article can be used by scholars, for research purposes, by legislators or, even, by people of non-academic background who are interested in the particular subject. Due to its structure and the flow of information the article is easily understood and there is no need for expertise knowledge for reading and understanding its content. The article aims to highlight two key facts: a) the percentage of Francophones in Quebec seems to be standardized, with signs of increase and b) the percentage of bilingual people in Quebec is continuously increased, a fact that it is considered as important for reducing conflicts, as related to the domination in Quebec of two languages, English and French. The article does not include a reference to the potential use of language as a tool for developing specific social and political trends, a phenomenon quite common in Quebec in the context described above. Moreover, the article avoids highlighting another problem: even if the increase of bilingualism in Quebec cannot be ignored still the power of Francophones and Anglophones in the region is significant. It would be quite difficult for bilingualism to become a key trend in Quebec since the region is highly based on French language, and secondly on English language, as of its social and political life, an issue that is highlighted in the literature presented above. In this context, any potential increase of bilingualism in Quebec would be temporary; in the long term, it cannot be secured that such trend will continue to exist, taking into consideration the region’s current political and social framework. Conclusion Quebec has been a region with a unique characteristic: in Quebec, the power of language to influence local politics and social life has been proved decisive. According to theorists, language can have such role but the level at which such power is given to language is depended on the structure of local political framework (Edwards 1998). In other words, in Quebec language has become quite powerful in influencing politics and social ethics because of the region’s political system, as aligned with the political system of the federal government (Perley 168). Still, in Quebec language seems to lead to the acquisition of rights without the intervention of the federal government (Perley 168). This power is based on the following fact: in Quebec language is used for promoting ethnicity (Perley 168). In this way, language for Quebecois, who highly value their identity, becomes quite valuable. In fact, in Quebec language is the region’s distinctive characteristic, supporting the ideas of regionalism, a concept that is extensively promoted in Quebec. In this context, in Quebec language is highly involved in political and social life; any sociological analysis related to social and political events in Quebec would be necessarily related to language. Works Cited Abu-Lughod, Janet. Sociology for the Twenty-first Century: Continuities and Cutting Edges. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000. Bottomore, Tom. Sociology as Social Criticism. London: Routledge, 2012. Breton, Albert and Breton, Raymond. National Survival in Dependent Societies: Social Change in Canada and Poland. Ontario: McGill-Queens Press - MQUP, 1990. Cornfield, Daniel and Hodson, Randy. Worlds of Work: Building an International Sociology of Work. New York: Springer, 2002. De Souza, Mike. “Census Canada 2011: French remains dominant in Quebec, despite immigration” October 24, 2012. National Post. Web. 13 November 2012 . Dobuzinskis, Laurent, Laycock, David and Howlett, Michael. Policy Analysis in Canada: The State of the Art. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2007. Edwards, John. Language in Canada. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1998. Haque, Eve. Multiculturalism Within a Bilingual Framework: Language, Race, and Belonging in Canada. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2012. Harrison, Trevor, and Friesen, John. Canadian Society in the 21st Century: A Historical Sociological Approach. Ontario: Canadian Scholars’ Press, 2010. Kosel, Jochen. The language situation in Canada with special regard to Quebec. Santa Cruz: GRIN Verlag, 2010. Langlois, Simon. Recent social trends in Québec, 1960-1990. Frankfurt: McGill-Queens, 1991. McCrone, David. The Sociology of Nationalism: Tomorrows Ancestors. London: Routledge, 1998. Nash, Kate. Contemporary Political Sociology: Globalization, Politics and Power. Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons, 2010. Perley, Bernard. Defying Maliseet Language Death: Emergent Vitalities of Language, Culture, and Identity in Eastern Canada. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 2011. Ricento, Thomas and Burnaby, Barbara. Language and Politics in the United States and Canada: Myths and Realities. Oxon: Taylor & Francis, 1998. Read More