Québéc French vs Parisian French: What’s the Difference?
Hundreds of millions of people speak French every single day, but there are many different versions of the romance language spoken all over the world.
French in Montreal may be very similar to French from France, but if you happen to need a French translator for your business, you’ll want to be sure that they can translate your documents properly based on the demographic you are working with.
How many French Speakers in Canada?
The percentage of French speakers in Canada is around twenty, but what they speak isn’t the same Parisian French you might hear while touring the Louvre; French Canadians in Quebec or “Quebecois” speak Quebec French. While the French spoken in Quebec is referred to as “Quebec French Slang” and not technically its own dialect, it is different enough to cause confusion among nonfluent speakers.
Of course, when thinking of French Canada, your mind thinks of Montreal and Quebec, but all other provinces have a significant amount of Francophones. New Brunswick, in particular, boasts about a third of its population speaking French.
What does French Canada have to offer?
Aside from being a wonderful place to find European flair an ocean away from continental Europe, French Canada and Montreal, in particular, are great places to do business.
Though not on the level of Los Angeles or London, Montreal is a major regional hub. In fact, Montreal is the largest inland port on earth, handling twenty-six million tonnes of cargo every single year. Other major industries are tech, video games, and pharmaceuticals (among many others).
Though many people speak English in Montreal, there are still a plethora of reasons to use a translation service. Marketing, for example, should be tailored to the demographic you want to make an impression on. Doing so in the audience’s second language might not be the best idea if you want your campaign to be effective.
The History of French Canada
When the French colonized North America in the sixteen and seventeen-hundreds, the settlers brought with them the French that was spoken in Paris at the time.
From that point, however, the two “dialects” evolved into the different things they are today. Imagine playing blackjack and splitting tens, then seeing different cards added to each hand making them each unique.
This among other influences has led to an interesting tongue spoken just minutes from the United States border.
Indigenous Influence on Quebec French
In French speaking Canada, one distinction the language has from Parisian French is the addition of loan words from the local native languages. The word “Quebec” itself is a Cree word meaning “it is shut”.
The Metis people of Canada also have their own mixed languages called Michif, Bungi, and the Metis dialect of French.
French in Montreal has diverse roots, which is not something the average French speaker will be familiar with. That’s why it’s a great idea to work with a company that understands the nuances of Quebecois French vs France French.
How does pronunciation differ in French Canada and France?
While they both speak French, French Canadians and Parisians sound fairly different to those who pay attention. There are several French speaking provinces in Canada, and accents can vary even from town to town, but in general French Canadians are known for having accents that sound more like a Parisian in the 17th century than a Parisian now.
There are many small differences between French Canadian vs French, that is why it is so easy for miscommunications to happen. Here are a few examples of the differences that can lead to confusion:
- In French Canada, vowels are pronounced with a more “nasal” quality. Words with sounds like “an” sound more like “in”, which is very different from Parisian French
- Consonants in Montreal have an added “s” or “z” after them in various situations, where a French word like Juillet (July) could be pronounced “Juilletts”
Confusion in pronunciation is one of many reasons that translating Quebec French is better left to a qualified professional. French speakers in Canada are a blast from the past, and you might be surprised to learn that understanding an English speaker from half a millennia ago would prove to be a challenge.
Does Quebec have its own vocabulary?
French Canada differs from France in several ways, one of which is the vocabulary used. Loanwords exist from the region’s indigenous languages, but other colonial languages, like English, have also left their mark. Here are some English words that have found their way into Quebec French:
- La Job = job
- Un char = car
- Le gomme = chewing gum
French speakers in Canada have also attempted to counteract the anglicization of their language by changing French words that sound similar to English to words that sound more French. For example, shopping has the same meaning in French as it does in English, but French Canadians have created the word “magasiner” based off of the French word for a shop (magasin).
Likely the most challenging aspect of Quebecois vocabulary, French Canadians often use French words to communicate something totally different than their original meanings in France. If you were to say “le diner” in Paris, you would be talking about dinner, but use the same word in Montreal, and you are talking about lunch.
If you studied abroad in Paris, you may be able to get by while on vacation in Montreal, but for anything that needs to be done accurately, using a translator is the best option.
Should I get a translator for Quebec French?
If you care about the documents you are having translated, the answer is an emphatic “yes”. Quebecois Canadians and Parisians have been living an ocean apart for about five hundred years, and in that time their languages have evolved in their own directions. Qualified French translators can easily decipher the small details, the same details that could stump even a Parisian native.
French Canada is an excellent destination for business with a great deal of opportunity for profit, so use a translator for your invaluable documents and make sure the service you entrust understands all of the nuances of Canadian French vs French.
