Language in Canada

This book provides an up-to-date account of the linguistic situation in Canada.

John Edwards (Edited by)

9780521563284, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 9 July 1998

524 pages
23.6 x 16 x 4.4 cm, 0.906 kg

"...this book nevertheless evinces a remarkable commonness of purpose and execution...[Edwards] has succeeded in putting together a work of significant value and interest." Canadian Journal of Linguistics

Language in Canada provides an up-to-date account of the linguistic and cultural situation in Canada, primarily from a sociolinguistic perspective. The strong central theme connecting language with group and identity will offer insights into the current linguistic and cultural tension in Canada. The book provides comprehensive accounts of the original 'charter' languages, French and English, as well as the aboriginal and immigrant varieties which now contribute to the overall picture. It explains how they came into contact - and sometimes into conflict - and looks at the many ways in which they weave themselves through and around the Canadian social fabric. The public policy issues, particularly official bilingualism and educational policy and language, are also given extensive coverage. Non-specialists as well as linguists will find in this volume, a companion to Language in Australia, Language in the USA and Language in the British Isles, an indispensable guide and reference to the linguistic heritage of Canada.

Introduction
1. The foundations
2. The fading Canadian duality
3. Official bilingualism: from the 1960s to the 1990s
4. Official multiculturalism
5. Language in education: bridging educational policy and social psychological research
6. Aboriginal languages:history
7. Aboriginal languages: current status
8. French: Canadian varieties
9. French in Quebec
10. French in New Brunswick
11. French outside New Brunswick and Quebec
12. English: Canadian varieties
13. English Quebec
14. The teaching of international languages
15. French immersion in Canada
16. Language in Newfoundland
17. Language in Prince Edward Island
18. Language in Nova Scotia
19. Language in New Brunswick
20. Language in Quebec: Aboriginal and heritage varieties
21. Language in Ontario
22. Language in Manitoba
23. Language in Saskatchewan: Anglo-hegemony maintained
24. Language in Alberta: unilingualism in practice
25. Language in British Columbia
26. Language in the Northwest Territories and the Yukon Territory.

Subject Areas: Sociolinguistics [CFB]