(Untitled)

[spizzy]

New French language laws in Quebec come into force today prohibiting the sale of English-only video games if a French version is available

Comments

[beatonna]

I guess I can see what they are going for, popular culture vehicles like television and radio play a big part in english coming to dominate other languages in people's minds. But Quebec language laws usually leave me a little perplexed and with the feeling that they are executed in poor taste, or perhaps that is just how they are reported to the english speaking world.

Language laws in general are really tricky, they are meant to help and communication is made more effective for everyone if they speak in complete understanding, but there are no English language laws, is it really up to the goverment to make sure French is enforced? As for minority languages, we fought for years for Gaelic rights in Nova Scotia, and that is a language that has been in Canada for hundreds of years, I understand ho important language preservation is. Now it is available in school and gets government funding for some programs, but it isn't forced on anyone.

[jennuass]

I think that it is good to have a push for bilingual video games but that push should be from the stores and from the consumer, not through government legislation.

But you're right Jon, they're just going to get the games from Amazon, so in effect, the laws end up just being a negative force on the small gaming business.

[somerled]

I don't know. It is easy to say that there should be "a push" for multi-lingual games, but why

[snowmit]

As someone who broadly agrees with everything that you said here, and who tends to be in favour of working things out in the marketplace, especially when the law of unintended consequences is so likely to rear its ugly head, AND as someone who has noticed that the chorus so far primarily supports the idea that these laws are wrong, I feel that it behoves someone to try to make an argument in the other direction

[somerled]

Ordinarily I would suspect that laws like these would favour a known set of politically connected producers who already met the guidelines. But as far as I know, Montreal does not have any strong local game makers who produce in French first for the Quebec market. I think this is cultural insecurity gone neurotic. There are a few big producers here who run their localization work, and maybe they (in a very narrow kind of inter-departmental self-interest) hope to see an increase in the demand for what their departments do. But I can hardly imagine they are so unrealistic

[anonymous]

I HATE the Quebec french language laws! I am graduating in a few months and in order to work in Quebec serving an English population (solely in English), I am forced to pass a 3.5 hour French exam/interview! Many health professionals are leaving the province due to this restriction - leaving Quebec with a severe health professional shortage (emergency rooms face 12 hour wait times). I understand that they want to maintain the French language and that Francophones have a right to be served in their native tongue, but the rules are taken so far that they just don't make sense anymore.

- Emily!

[snowmit]

At the risk of being a jerk, it's not that these French requirements are news or a surprise, it's kind of part of the cost of doing business in Quebec. If you like Montreal so much (as I imagine many of us do) part of Montreal is needing to be able to speak French... It's part of the landscape, like saying "I'd like Halifax if it weren't for all the Ocean."

[anonymous]

I guess I just find it too bad there there is an additional 'cost' to doing business in Quebec. I enjoy the language as much as the next person and I think it adds a lot to the city (as the ocean does to Halifax), I just find it unfortunate that there are people who are unemployed because they are unable to pass an exam (for a variety of reasons) that has absolutely nothing to do with their ability to perform in their job. I know a few very qualified professionals who are out of work because they need to live here with their family but for whatever reason can't learn French to the level set forth by the Quebec French Language Office.

[snowmit]

A worthwhile point!