Intergenerational Language Transmission in Quebec: Patterns and Predictors in the Light of Provincial Language Planning

The author presents an empirical investigation of the patterns and predictors of the intergenerational transmission of French in Quebec. She used an online questionnaire to gather data from 274 parents from different mother tongue (L1) groups: L1 French, L1 English, L1 French and English, and L1 Other. The results show that L1 French-and-English-speaking parents and L1 Other parents displayed particularly low rates of French transmission. The author found that three variables were significant predictors of the intergenerational transmission of French: having it as one’s L1, high proficiency, and positive attitudes towards the language on the solidarity dimension. She also found that the same three variables were significant predictors for the intergenerational transmission of English in Quebec, indicating that they may not be merely language-specific. Not significant for either French or English were language used with partner, attitudes on the status dimension, Quebec-based social identity, migration background, and location within Quebec. The author suggests that further research is needed to ascertain whether the identified predictors are context-specific, and what other variables are at play. The author discusses the implications of her study’s findings for theory as well as for language planning in Quebec, and especially the potential effectiveness of acquisition and prestige planning.

International Journal of Bilingual Education and Bilingualism

Vol. 25

no. 2

418-435

2022

en