Non Official Languages

Who is speaking what in Canada? This report looks at two aspects of the ever-fascinating topic of language in this country. First, it examines the demographics of language groups and the factors that have an impact on their size and growth. Next it focuses on the language knowledge of Canadians and the use of various languages.

With the exception of Canada’s relationship with the United States, Canada’s relationship with China will likely be its most significant foreign connection in the twenty-first century. As China’s role in world politics becomes more central, understanding China becomes essential for Canadian policymakers and policy analysts in a variety of areas. Responding to this need, The China Challenge brings together perspectives from both Chinese and Canadian experts on the evolving Sino-Canadian relationship. It traces the history and looks into the future of Canada-China bilateral relations. It also examines how China has affected a number of Canadian foreign and domestic policy issues, including education, economics, immigration, labour and language. Recently, Canada-China relations have suffered from inadequate policymaking and misunderstandings on the part of both governments. Establishing a good dialogue with China must be a Canadian priority in order to build and maintain mutually beneficial relations with this emerging power, which will last into the future.

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.

This publication is a collaborative effort between Statistics Canada and Canadian Heritage aimed at providing a general portrait of the linguistic situation in Canada. How has language evolved in Canada since 1951? What factors determine the size of language groups and the tendency of languages to grow or decline? These are two main questions this study on language seeks to answer. The publication examines the change in the size and distribution of the English and French populations as well as the growth and decline of various non-official language populations between 1951 and 1996. It also looks at the increase in the number and percentage of Canadians who speak both official languages as well as the increase in those who speak neither English nor French.