Québécois (word)

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Revision as of 00:29, 12 April 2007 by Picaroon (talk | contribs) (format, rearranging some sections; no actual content changes, even if the diff looks like I made some!)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff) This redirect is about the use of the term Québécois in the English language. For the newspaper, see Le Québécois. For the province in Canada, see Quebec. Ethnic group

Québécois
Regions with significant populations
File:Bouchard5.jpg
Quebec
Languages
French, English
Religion
Roman Catholic, Secular
Related ethnic groups
French Canadian, French, Acadians, Cajun, Metis, English-speaking Quebecer

A Québécois (IPA: [ke.be'kwa]), or in the feminine Québécoise (IPA: ), is a native or resident of the Canadian province of Quebec, but may also specifically refer to a French-speaking or French Canadian native or inhabitant of the province, or to someone who identifies with Quebec's French-speaking majority culture.

In English, Quebecer or Quebecker (IPA: [kwəˈbɛkɚ] or ) is used to refer to any resident of Quebec, including English-speaking Quebecers or allophone natives or residents of Quebec.

With a lower-case initial, the word quebecois can refer to Quebec French, a variant of the French language spoken by Quebec's population. As an adjective, it can refer to Quebec's francophone culture or population or the culture of French Canadians living in Quebec.

In French, Québécois refers to a native or any resident of Quebec or Quebec City. In a cultural context, it can also refer to a French Canadian living in Quebec, or, as an adjective, refers to French Canadian culture in Quebec.

Origin of Name

The term Québécois replaced French Canadian as an expression of cultural and nationalist identity among French Canadians in Quebec during the Quiet Revolution of the 1960's. Whereas the predominant French Canadian nationalism and identity of previous generations involved a pan-Canadian identity based on the protection of the French language, the Roman Catholic Church, and Church-run institutions all over Canada, the modern Quebecois identity would be secular and based on a social democratic ideal of the Quebec State promoting French Canadian culture and language in the arts, education, and business within the territory of Quebec. Politically, this resulted in a movement towards more autonomy and an internal debate on Quebec independence and the roll of language that continues to this day.

Québécois nation

The "Québécois nation" was recognized in a near-unanimous motion of Prime Minister Stephen Harper adopted by the Canadian House of Commons on 27 November 2006. The motion proposed that "... this House recognize that the Québécois form a nation within a united Canada", with the Prime Minister specifying that he was using the "cultural" and "sociological" as opposed the "legal" sense of the word "nation". The Prime Minister emphasized that the motion was a symbolic political nature, representing no constitutional change, no recognition of Quebec sovereignty, and no legal change in its political relations within the federation. The Prime Minister has further elaborated, stating that the motion's definition of Quebecois relies on personal decisions to self-identify as Quebecois, and therefore is ambiguous, carrying no legal weight.

Usage

English usage

English expressions employing the term stress the distinction between the ethno-cultural and sociological sense of Québécois and the legal and civic sense of Quebecer or Quebec.

Québécois people
Québécois society
Québécois nation

French usage

Les Québécois et Québécoises (masculine and feminine genders) to include women when referring to Quebecers as a whole.
Le Québec aux Québécois - "Quebec for Québécois" - slogan often chanted at Quebec nationalist rallies or protests.

French expressions used in English

French expressions employing "Québécois" are often used in English. Here the sense of the word remains ambiguous.

Parti Québécois - Provincial-level political party that supports Quebec independence from Canada
Bloc Québécois - Federal-level political party that supports Quebec independence from Canada
Québécois de (vieille) souche' - "old-stock Quebecer" - Quebecer that can trace his or her ancestry back to the regime of New France.
Québécois pure laine - "true blue" or "dyed-in-the-wool" Quebecker - usually means the same as Québécois de vieille souche, but originally referred to an ardent Quebec nationalist; the term is resented by English-speaking Quebecers because it was often used by nationalists to question the belonging of minority groups who are, by and large, cool to Quebec nationalism; the term has fallen out of favour since it has been used by opponents of Quebec nationalism to highlight its perceived exclusion of minorities.

References

""Quebecois." Main entry. Merriam-Webster's Collegiate® Dictionary, Eleventh Edition". 2003. Retrieved 2007-03-16.
""Québecois." A.a. The Oxford English Dictionary Online". 2000-03. Retrieved 2007-03-16. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
""Quebecer." Main entry. Merriam-Webster's Collegiate® Dictionary, Eleventh Edition". 2003. Retrieved 2007-03-16.
Robert, Paul (1984), Petit Robert. Dictionaire de la langue française., Montreal: Les Dictionnaires Roberts-Canada S.C.C., p. isbn = 2-85036-066-X {{citation}}: Missing pipe in: |page= (help) "Specialt. (répandu v. 1965). Du groupe ethnique et linguistique canadien français composant la majorité de la population du Québec. Littérature québécoise; cinéma québécoise."
Bélanger, Claude (2000-08-27). "The social-democratic nationalism: 1945 to today". Quebec Nationalism. Marianopolis College. Retrieved 2007-04-05. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
"House passes motion recognizing Québécois as nation". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 2006-11-27. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |acessdate= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
"Who's a Québécois? Harper isn't sure". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 2006-12-19. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |acessdate= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)

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