The Interpretation of the Language Question of the Canadian Census

Type of resource
Author/collaborator
Title
The Interpretation of the Language Question of the Canadian Census
Abstract
Based on random samples of Greek and Portuguese language households in the metropolitan Montreal area, the author argues that his findings indicate an important gap between the linguistic reality of these households and their portrayal in Canadian census data. He claims this is true for both the home language and official language data. He argues that the former census question fails to ascertain the widespread abandonment of the mother tongue when measured by the language of conversation with other siblings or friends. He further argues that the question designed to ascertain knowledge of official languages seriously underestimates the extent of mother tongue unilingualism among the foreign-born. Furthermore, he claims the data reveal an important gap between perceived capacity to speak a language, particularly French, and its actual use in any social setting.
Publication
Canadian Review of Sociology and Anthropology/Revue canadienne de sociologie et anthropologie
Volume
Vol. 23
Issue
no. 3
Pages
412-422
Date
August 1986
Language
en
Citation
Veltman, Calvin. “The Interpretation of the Language Question of the Canadian Census.” Canadian Review of Sociology and Anthropology/Revue canadienne de sociologie et anthropologie Vol. 23, no. 3 (August 1986): 412–422.
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