Xref: utzoo can.general:1811 can.politics:2814 Path: utzoo!attcan!telly!evan From: evan@telly.on.ca (Evan Leibovitch) Newsgroups: can.general,can.politics Subject: Re: postings in the French language Message-ID: <1989Sep29.130503.13587@telly.on.ca> Date: 29 Sep 89 13:05:03 GMT References: <1989Sep6.222038.2707@gpu.utcs.utoronto.ca> <1178@mannix.iros1.UUCP> <3837.251eb4d9@uwovax.uwo.ca> <1989Sep26.132533.12660@utzoo.uucp> <22345@looking.on.ca> Organization: Telly Online, Brampton, Ontario Lines: 21 In article <22345@looking.on.ca> brad@looking.on.ca (Brad Templeton) writes: >Canada has two official languages, but if somebody came to you and asked >directions in English, to respond in French (when you know English) would >be rude. That's not to say it hasn't happened. When I lived in Montreal, being treated that way by bus drivers, directory assistance and government offices was the exception rather than the rule. In more recent trips that hasn't happened, ususally because I now ask in French (1/2 :-). But the memories are certainly vivid, and the technique was sometimes applied to tourists who didn't know better. I have come across a number of Americans who won't vacation in Quebec anymore for this reason. In this context, the actions were not only rude, but damaging to both Quebec's reputation for hospitality and its economy. -- Evan Leibovitch, Sound Software, Brampton, Ontario - evan@telly.on.ca She was looking for a vacation, and he was the last resort.