New Brunswick's Official Languages

New Brunswick is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada. It is the first province in Canada to constitutionally recognise both English and French as its official languages. The greater Moncton area is among the most bilingual cities in Canada. In 2011, 65.4% of New Brunswickers reported their mother tongue as English, compared to 32% who said French. However, the number of people who speak French at home has decreased slightly. New Brunswick's variety of French is called Acadian French, and seven regional accents can be found.

Moncton is one of the most bilingual cities in Canada

Moncton, the most populous city in the Canadian province of New Brunswick, is one of the most bilingual cities in Canada. The city has a large bilingual population, with about 46% of its residents speaking both English and French. In 2002, Moncton became the first officially bilingual city in the country, and it remains one of only a few Canadian cities with such a high level of linguistic duality. This means that all municipal services, public notices, and information are available in both French and English.

The history of Moncton's bilingualism can be traced back to its early settlement. The area was first settled by Acadians in the 1670s, who established a marshland farming community called Le Coude, meaning "The Elbow" in French. In the 1700s, English immigrants changed the name to "The Bend of the Petitcodiac" or simply "The Bend". This early mix of French and English-speaking populations set the stage for Moncton's future as a bilingual city.

Today, Moncton's bilingualism is supported by its diverse economy, which includes a strong presence of federal employment and call centres for Canadian companies that provide services in both English and French. The city is also home to several post-secondary institutions, including the Université de Moncton, the largest Francophone university in Canada outside of Quebec. Additionally, Moncton offers financial incentives to local businesses to encourage the use of bilingual signage, further promoting its bilingual image.

Moncton's unique linguistic character has made it an attractive destination for tourists and new residents alike. The city's ability to host major events, such as the Francophonie Summit in 1999 and the Memorial Cup in 2006, is a testament to its bilingual capabilities. Moncton's commitment to bilingualism and its strong economy have earned it national recognition, solidifying its place as one of the most bilingual cities in Canada.

New Brunswick has the highest percentage of French mother-tongue speakers outside of Quebec

New Brunswick is one of Canada's thirteen provinces and territories. It is the first province in Canada to constitutionally recognise both English and French as its official languages. In New Brunswick, about two-thirds of the population are English speakers, while one-third are French speakers. This makes it the region with the highest percentage of French mother-tongue speakers outside of Quebec.

The French spoken in New Brunswick is called Acadian French, and it has seven regional accents. The Acadian Peninsula, east of Bathurst, is home to the richest concentration of French Acadian culture. The city of Bathurst, pronounced "Batt-urst" by locals, is predominantly French-speaking, as is the nearby city of Caraquet, which is considered the wellspring of Acadian culture in the province. The region of New Brunswick surrounding the city of Edmundston is also predominantly French-speaking, and the area is sometimes referred to as "La Republique" by locals.

The recognition of French as an official language in New Brunswick grants New Brunswickers the right to receive provincial government services in the language of their choice. This includes the right to distinct educational institutions, as well as cultural institutions necessary for the preservation and promotion of the French linguistic community.

While French is widely spoken in New Brunswick, visitors will find that English is also commonly used, especially in tourist areas. Many locals are bilingual and will often switch to English if they hear a non-native French speaker or recognise someone as a tourist. Official highway signs throughout the province are bilingual, and most English-speaking individuals in New Brunswick know some basic French phrases or have a basic understanding of the language.

The Official Languages Act of 1969 recognised French as an official language

The Act was first adopted by the Liberal government of Premier Louis Robichaud in April 1969, and it has had a lasting impact on the province. Notably, it addressed the unique character of New Brunswick and acknowledged the equality of its English and French linguistic communities. The Act ensured that both languages would have equal status and rights in all provincial government institutions, including the legislature and courts.

The Official Languages Act of 1969 also had significant implications for education in the province. It established two parallel school systems, one administered by a Francophone deputy minister and the other by an Anglophone deputy minister. All students in the province had the right to be educated in their mother tongue, and institutions were required to teach the second official language as well.

While the 1969 Act was a landmark in recognising the bilingual nature of New Brunswick, it was not without its shortcomings. As the province's first language law, it had some limitations, and Acadians eventually proposed extensive changes. This led to the Act being replaced in 2002 by a new Official Languages Act, which aimed to address the constitutional obligations of the province towards both official languages.

The variety of French spoken in New Brunswick is called Acadian French

Acadian French also has several unique characteristics that set it apart from standard French. For example, the third-person plural ending of verbs ‹-ont›, such as "ils mangeont" (they eat), is still pronounced, unlike standard French. Acadian French also has a feature called l'ouisme, where the word "bonne" is pronounced [bʊn]. These features are typically used by older people.

The development of Acadian French was influenced by the Mi'kmaq language, as the Acadian settlers borrowed some words from the Mi'kmaq, their indigenous neighbours. Additionally, due to the history of political unrest, war, and exile, Acadian French retains vocabulary and characteristics that are now considered obsolete in standard French. For example, they use the word "une échelle" to refer to a staircase, which usually designates a ladder in standard French.

In 1969, New Brunswick passed the Official Languages Act, recognising French as an official language alongside English. This legislation ensures that New Brunswickers have the right to receive provincial government services in the official language of their choice. This reflects the significant population of French speakers in the province, with about one-third of New Brunswick's population being Francophone.

The French spoken in New Brunswick is not 'textbook' French

New Brunswick is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada, and the only officially bilingual province. English and French are the official languages of New Brunswick and have equal status and equal rights and privileges as to their use in all institutions of the legislature and government of New Brunswick.

The French spoken in New Brunswick is not textbook French. In fact, New Brunswick's variety of French is called Acadian French, and 7 regional accents can be found. In 1969, New Brunswick passed the Official Languages Act, which began recognizing French as an official language, along with English.

In 2021, 320,300 New Brunswickers could have a conversation in French. This was the largest number ever observed in a census in the province. Of these, 60,175 people could converse in French, but not in English. This number was down from 1991 (-29,325 people). The demographic weight of these residents also declined, falling from 12.5% in 1991 to 7.9% in 2021.

Moreover, 260,125 people could have a conversation in French and English in 2021, up from 1991 (+48,600). In 2021, these people represented 34.0% of the population, up from 29.5% in 1991 and fairly stable relative to the peak recorded in 2001 (34.2%).

In 2021, 41.9% of New Brunswick residents could have a conversation in French. This proportion was virtually unchanged from 1991 (42.0%), but lower than the record observed in 2006 (43.6%). From 1991 to 2021, the number and proportion of New Brunswickers who could converse in French rose among those who did not learn French first at home in their childhood: while 57,185 people (12.1%) could have a conversation in French in 1991, this rose to 83,990 (16.0%) in 2021.

In the 2021 Census, the proportion of the population who did not have French as a mother tongue but could have a conversation in French varied across the province. It was higher in certain census agglomerations (CA) in the north, such as Edmundston (66.4%) and Bathurst (38.1%), than in the census metropolitan areas (CMAs) of Moncton (22.7%), Fredericton (16.6%) and Saint John (12.5%).

The municipalities with the highest number of people who knew French were Moncton (36,145) and Dieppe (21,615) in the Moncton CMA, as well as Tracadie (15,660) in the Acadian Peninsula.

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