The official language of Canada and France is French. English is Canada's second official language. Are you aware that in the 1960s, Canada was the first country to use machine translation technology due to its two official languages? In order to publish weather reports in both languages, Montreal University created a program. Canada ranks third in terms of the proportion of people who speak French, after their native France and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The region's culture has an impact on languages and all of their variants. As a result, Canadians speak a different dialect of French than French speakers do in France. To differentiate the French spoken in Canada from the French that people in France speak, you must seek help from French Canadian Translation Services.
The History of Canadian French
King Francis I (Francois 1er) wanted to find a new route to China during the Age of Exploration. In 1534, Jacques Cartier led an expedition and claimed 'New France' for the King when he landed on the Gape Peninsula and planted a cross. French settlers started to capture this new land, and it expanded to cover half of North America. Therefore, French colonists started arriving in New France during the 17th and 18th centuries.
They brought Classical French and some variations spoken in the north of Paris, during that time. Some linguists think that various French varieties merged in New France during this period.
In 1760, British rule began in the New World, isolating the French colonies in Canada, especially in the modern-day Québec region. The French spoken in the colony also developed into an isolated language, resulting in distinct French dialects. European French was shaped by European influences, whereas Canadian French was heavily influenced by the English language. The distinction between European and Canadian translation can be made with the aid of Professional french translation services.
French spoken in Canada and Europe differs from each other
Over many centuries, since New France was founded in Quebec City. Therefore, the French language in Canada has evolved, and now it's distinct from European French. People who speak French can easily notice. Let's identify the difference between the European and Canadian French.
Terminology
Canadian French uses many words that are not found in European French, or that have different meanings. Some of these words are informal, like the magazine," which means 'to shop' in Canadian French, but not in European French. Another example is char," which means 'car' in Canadian French, but 'chariot' in European French.
Informal Canadian French also includes English loan words, but formal usage tries to avoid them. Early settlers encountered loan words from Aboriginal languages as well, like micouène," meaning a large wooden spoon.
Some words are similar to European French, but they may have a difference in gender or number. For instance, "autobus" is feminine in Canadian French, whereas in European French, it may have a different gender.
Accents
The French-Canadian language and standard European French (Metropolitan French) have different accents and intonations. It is just like the difference between Portuguese and Spanish.
Grammar
The syntax of French-Canadian and European French can differ in various ways, including prepositions and unique Québécois grammatical structures. Informal Québécois uses fewer prepositions and may have different subject-object pronouns.
In Québécois, vowels like A, E, I, O, and U (and sometimes Y) are pronounced with more nasal intonation compared to Metropolitan French. The speed of vowel pronunciation can also vary between the two. Some suspect these differences might be connected to the varying pronunciations of British and American English.
Formality
Despite the accents being confusing at times, speakers of both Metropolitan French and Québécois can usually understand each other. However, Québécois are more informal because of their use of idioms, words, cultural references, and expressions specific to French Canada. Confusion often arises for Metropolitan French speakers during this "informal usage."
Cultural Differences
French Canadians and European French have cultural differences. French Canadians have their own unique traditions and customs that are different from those in France. Quebec, for example, has its own distinct cuisine, music, and festivals that are not found in France. Therefore, to understand these differences, you must seek assistance from a professional translation company. They have a team of native translators that provides you with impeccable translation services while keeping in mind cultural and regional intricacies.
Language Differences and Rules
In specific fields like legal, education, and healthcare, the terminology and language regulations differ between French Canadian and European French. For instance, Quebec's legal system uses traditional French terms with different meanings compared to their use in France. Language restrictions govern translations and usage in business signs, menus, displays, etc.
Wrapping Up
The difference between European French and Canadian French is because of their regional and cultural nuances. By understanding these differences, you can learn the French language easily.
