Letters To The Editor: Language In La Belle Province

Since I opened the language can of beans, here's a couple of LTE in today's newspaper on the subject of plane safety:

"I agree that safety instructions on US Airways planes flying into Montreal should be in French as well English. I just get the feeling that if one had written a letter saying that there had been no English instructions, the response here in Quebec might have been to learn French."

K.T.

LaSalle

Re: "Safe in English only?" (Letters, Jan. 17).

"Robert Tittler should remember that US Airways is based in the United States where the two main languages are English and Spanish.

One should also remind Tittler how "unsafe" it is for English people in Quebec where signs and instructions everywhere are in French only. Quebec is still part of Canada, and there are two official languages, English and French."

A.B.

LaSalle

I didn't realize Lasalle was passionate about language. They may as well, have you been there? Low blow.

Both authors are correct. Quebec is very good at pointing out deficiencies in other countries, companies and jurisdictions (it's a national obsession) but quite unwilling to reflect upon its own language indiscretions.

It's quite the interesting observation when driving into places like Vermont and Ontario. Traffic and road signs are displayed in both English and French for larger portions of their jurisdictions. They recognize large numbers of French-Canadians pass on their roads. It's a signal that safety is paramount on their roads.

Unfortunately, the favor is not returned. Our highways don't offer languages in English.

Now of course, a nationalist will come up with several explanations and justifications for this - it'll always come down to "well, we're a minority on this continent." Yes, but at what point does even that become tired? Certainly, we as a society should excuse safety from the political games, no?

The day I see Quebec do this is the day I know we've grown up.