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4 - Canadian Language Politics in Global and Theoretical Contexts

from Part I - Theoretical Orientations

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 July 2019

By
Peter Ives
Edited by
Thomas Ricento
Thomas Ricento
Affiliation:
University of Calgary
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Summary

This chapter examines the common assumption that Canadian Official Bilingualism of French and English fosters progressive and tolerant multiculturalism, including multilingualism of any non-official variety. The chapter uses the former Commissioner of Official Languages of Canada (2006-16), Graham Fraser, to interrogate the argument that the Canadian English/French language duality, having two Official Languages, is positively connected to general multilingualism and with it an openness towards a multitude of languages and cultures that make up Canadian society. After a shorter discussion of a similar position held by former Chief Justice Beverly McLachlin (2000-17), this chapter turns to the theoretical grounding of such positions in the work of Charles Taylor. Ultimately this chapter questions the extent to which these celebrations of bilingualism really foster a truly multilingual and egalitarian multicultural society, although it appreciates and agrees with their insistence that language and culture are deeply inextricable.

Keywords

bilingualismmultilingualismOfficial Bilingualismlanguage policymulticulturalismliberalismpolitical theoryCharles TaylorGraham FraserBeverly McLachlin
Type
Chapter
Information
Language Politics and Policies
Perspectives from Canada and the United States
 , pp. 78 - 94
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2019

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