It’s amazing to me that after so many years of co-existing in Quebec, anglos and francos are still involved in a “dialogue de sourds” when it comes to language issues. At least, it’s that way in much of the news coverage and political discourse. Overall in day-to-day life (I think) most people get along quite well.
My Franco Comme Moi feature (about seeing what it’s like to be a francophone shopper in English parts of town) generated quite a few email responses from readers (and at least one online discussion). The reaction was mixed – I had a few anglos and francos telling me I got it bang on; a franco accusing me of glossing over the problem; and several anglos telling me that I was fanning the flames by exaggerating the problem of unilingual anglo store workers. Oh well – I guess the dialogue de sourds continues.
The Gazette is going to publish several email responses I received in the paper and online in the coming days. (UPDATE: HERE THEY ARE) I thought the exchange below with a francophone Gazette reader (yes, they exist) was particularly interesting. (I have not included the reader’s name because I have not asked whether she would mind being identified here. I also removed a sentence in the letter in which she refers to particular restaurants and stores in N.D.G. and Westmount where she has had difficulty being served in French.)
Reader:
Dear Mr. Riga:
I read your article this morning and frankly I was quite surprise because I am a francophone living in N.D.G. and it is very difficult to be served in French.
I do not make a scene when I speak in French and I am answered in English in a conversation with 3 or 4 exchanges but I can honestly tell you that it irritates the ‘@#$%*&?%$%’ out of me.
I do disagree with your article. I think you are sending an errouneous message.
Me:
Hi there,
Thank you for taking the time to respond to my story.
As I mentioned in the story, I did find some stores where workers resisted switching to English — and even I found it irritating, so I can see how a francophone would, as well. But I found that the extent of that situation seems to have been exaggerated.
We are hoping to publish some of the emails I have received about the article. Would you mind if we used your name?Andy
Reader:
Dear Andy:
Thank you for having read my email.
When I sent it, I did not think it would be read.
Anyway, your email has reconciled me with the Montreal Gazette because frankly for the last 10 days I was beginning to believe that your newspaper had something against French Canadians.
We receive your newspaper at home and it is always a pleasure to read it, however, lately, I felt uncomfortable with the Gazette’s ”manufacturing consent” about the fact that only anglophones cannot be served in their own language in Quebec.
Yes you can print my reply, however, you must correct my mistake with the word ”erroneus”.
Do we have a deal ?
Thank you for publishing both sides of the story as an honest journalist should do.
Regards
Me:
Hello again,
I had spotted the spelling mistake and it is fixed.
As for your comments about The Gazette, I think sometimes nuances get lost in the language debate.
The anglophone community and The Gazette have changed over the past 30 years. One example: several other reporters here have decided, like me, to send their kids to French schools instead of English ones in order for them to get the best of both worlds. In fact, I’m technically an allophone (I learned Italian first) and my daughters are anglophones (they learned English first) but my grandchildren could very well end up being francophone…
Thanks again,
Andy
