This past June, hundreds of bikers set up camp in glamping-tents on the lawns of Laval
University in Québec City, Québec, Canada. Village Avril, where devoted cyclists meet together
for a 1000-kilometer ride. As I walked along the pathways, watching the teams get breakfast and
exchange with local vendors about sports products, an emcee took the microphone and spoke in
the local Canadian French dialect of Québécois. All was well in the crowd until he uttered an
English word. Suddenly the bikers around me shouted back, “Travail! On dit travail!” At that
moment, I witnessed first-hand the local sentiment of protecting a language against anglicisms. I
took it as a testament to the Quebecers’ considerable pride in their language and how eager they
are to keep the English away from their language. I wondered why the desire to push away
anglicisms was so strong, despite speaking a localized French dialect so heavily influenced by
them. And I wondered how the current French-language policies and measures affected the
average immigrant to Quebec. .....(research continued)
