Mango Languages

Language Learning Myths: Everyone Speaks English

“Everyone speaks English.”

They don’t. Myth dispelled.

And even if they do, you’re much more likely to make new friends or at least encounter polite locals if you learn enough for basic communication in their language.

Story time:

Il y avait une fois (once upon a time), I was staying in the francophone province of Québec, Canada when I called for a cab to the airport. The driver spoke to me in heavily-accented English, not knowing that I speak French.

Having spent all my Canadian money on maple syrup scented candles the day before, I asked him if he accepted credit cards in his cab.

He became furious, mumbling in French about disrespectful Americans who don’t even bother to exchange their money.

So I responded en français, apologizing and saying I could call a different cab or asking if it would be better if we stop at a guichet automatique (ATM) on the way so I could withdraw more Canadian money.

He completely changed.

He wanted to know how I learned French, why I was in Québec and wanted to make sure I visited his favorite spot for late night poutine. We stopped at the guichet automatique and chatted in French all the way to the airport.

When we arrived though, he wouldn’t accept my money. He told me to keep the Canadian cash; that this way, I would have to keep my promise to come back to Canada.

Speaking the native language might not always equal free cab rides. But it will equal a better overall experience abroad and friendlier locals.

Do you have any examples of a time when knowing the local language has completely changed your experience while traveling?

Mango Stampedes Calgary

Last week, I spent an amazing five days in Calgary, Canada, for the Netspeed Alberta Library Show. We are so excited that the entire Province of Alberta is now part of the Mango family. I was able to meet and train public and academic libraries on the Mango system, introduce the new iPhone app and share additional products like Little Pim.

We met some raving fans of Mango:

I encountered many interesting people and even cultural nuances and experiences. Growing up in Detroit, Canada doesn’t feel very foreign. I guess it is because we used to be able to drive across the border in about 20 minutes with our Michigan Drivers License. I remember as a kid buying candy there and getting double what I could get in the U.S. as the dollar was so strong.

Flying to Calgary was different. Customs was much stricter and, as I travel often, it felt much more like going to Europe or South America to me. Once I arrived I found several things were different. Yes, they speak English but with a few differences. Lots of long vowels, but we have that in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, too. More importantly they say things like Parkade instead of parking garage and they ask for their bill instead of their check. And many words are spelled like the British, for example favour instead of favor.

What I can say is Calgary has some of the nicest and hospitable people around. I know I missed the Calgary Stampede but I did visit Fort Calgary and realized how much history Michigan and Calgary have in common. On top of all of that I visited Banff, and the Canadian Rockies are gorgeous! Go! You won’t regret it! Oh Canada, I already miss you!

Overheard in Montreal: 5 Quintessentially French Canadian sentences from the streets of Quebec.

I love Montréal; the sights, the sounds, the food (try the poutine at La Banquise Resto), the people, everything!  But let’s talk about the sounds.

One of my favorite parts of traveling to Montréal is overhearing, “Québécismes;” words and phrases that are très French Canadian.

Check out these five actual phrases I’ve heard during my travels to Montréal and what they can teach us about the language:

1. C’était bien le fun!
What it means: It was really fun!
Why it’s awesome: I was speaking in French with a Quebecois man when I heard this phrase. After he said it, I remarked that it was interesting that he used the English word “fun.”

He looked at me like I was crazy.

Much like “bouquet” or “clique” in English, the word “fun” (among many others) is used so frequently that French Canadian speakers don’t even realize it’s an English word.

2. Je vais te sender un email.
What it means: I am going to send you an email.
Why it’s awesome: The word “sender” in this sentence is what I found the most interesting. Especially when it comes to technology, French Canadians borrow lots of English words. When referring to email, the English verb “to send” was adopted into French grammar by adding an “–er” verb ending.

3. Il faut pas se bâdrer avec les détails!
What it means: Don’t bother with the details!
Why it’s awesome: The word “bâdrer” comes from “to bother” in English. This sentence is awesome because of what it reveals about the difference in the accents of Francophones when speaking in English. Stick with me here. When someone from Paris says, “the car” it usually sounds like “zee car.” When someone from Montreal says it, it usually sounds like “deh car.”

So, the word bâdrer comes from the French Canadian pronunciation of the word “bother” in English. The “th” sounds like a “d” and an “–er” verb ending was added.

4. C’est le friforâll (See photo above)
What it means: It’s a free-for-all.
Why it’s awesome: When I first looked at the advertisement in the photo above, I had no idea what friforâll meant…until I sounded it out in French: free…for…all ! Voila! French Canadian often takes English words and changes the spelling so that when sounded out in French, the pronunciation remains similar to how it’s pronounced in English.

5. Je suis badeloqué, la.
What is means: I have bad luck.
Why it’s awesome: Much like the free-for-all example above, badeloqué comes from the English “bad luck” but with a French spelling and is used as an adjective, “bad-lucked.” The “la” at the end of this sentence is heavily used in French-speaking Canada. In instances like this, “la” doesn’t have much meaning. It’s a filler that can be compared to “um” or “so” in English and is used to show emphasis.

The French Canadian language is a fascinating mélange of culture and history (with some English mixed in for good measure). Have you encountered any interesting “franglais” phrases or any other language combinations?

Oh Canada

Working for a company in the Detroit area means we are neighbors with Canada.  We can look across the Detroit River and see Windsor (it is actually south Detroit – if you know the song, which is weird).

I remember as a little girl going across the bridge or through the tunnel and being able to spend my money on candy and get way more for my buck due to the exchange rate.  Going to Canada is a big part of our culture because it is so accessible.  We actually drive through Canada to get to New York.   Every year we share our Independence Day with Windsor and have an awesome spectacle of fire works!

We love Canada. It is a geographically vast and ethnically diverse country.  Canadian culture has also been greatly influenced by immigration from all over the world.  The Vancouver Olympics are certainly a great way to see how welcoming they are.

Canada’s two official languages are English and French.  Both have equal status in federal courts, Parliament, and in all federal institutions.

According to Wikipedia: English and French are the mother tongues of 59.7% and 23.2% of the population respectively, and the languages most spoken at home by 68.3% and 22.3% of the population respectively.  98.5% of Canadians speak English or French (67.5% speak English only, 13.3% speak French only, and 17.7% speak both).

Although more than 85% of French-speaking Canadians live in Quebec (French is the official language there), there are substantial Francophone populations in Ontario, Alberta, and southern Manitoba. Ontario has the largest French-speaking population outside Quebec.

Have you been to Canada? Share your experience?