Concerns of Anglophone Montrealers towards their sociolinguistic status in Montreal.

摘要

The language and the culture of the French-speaking citizens of Quebec, Canada have been the subject of numerous studies. Until recently, English-language Quebecers have attracted less interest, particularly their attitudes towards their linguistic community. This study is meant to fill that lacuna. The research questions are: (1) What are the concerns of Montreal Anglophones about their sociolinguistic status in Montreal? (2) What factors (for example, age gender, religious affiliation and profession) play a role in the development of attitudes towards the sociolinguistic status of Anglophones in Montreal?;The researcher interviewed six Anglophone Montrealers and used the text of the interviews to write a survey instrument. After a pilot study, over one thousand copies of a revised questionnaire were given to Anglophone Montrealers; of the 311 returned questionnaires, 255 kept for statistical analysis. The survey instrument included demographic data, thirty-two questions on a Lykert-type scale, and a semantic differential section.;A principal factors factor analysis led to the emergence of two outcomes: Bias against Anglophones, and Control over linguistic matters. ANOVAS were performed between the two outcomes and gender and age, and between the two outcomes and proficiency in French and number of conversations with Francophones, as well as between Bias and religious affiliation or lack of affiliation, between the two outcomes and professional grouping, and between the two outcomes and Self-Identification. A t-test was performed between Control and religious affiliation.;Results indicate that gender, age, and profession do not make a statistically significant difference in Anglophone Montrealers' concerns about their sociolinguistic situation as measured by the instrument. But Anglophone Montrealers without religious affiliation have fewer complaints about the government control over linguistic matters. Further, respondents with many conversations with Francophones tended to see less bias against Anglophones. Finally, on the average those respondents fluent in French support the government's actions to ensure the survival of French in Quebec. The final tests indicate essential differences among those respondents who identify as Quebecers, those who identify as English-Canadians and those who identify as Canadians. In conclusion, some reflections are presented on possible eventualities and recommendations are made to the profession.