OMG. I had no idea Montréal was so fucking FRENCH.

You poor dumb thang.

It's also virulently homophobic.

What r1 said.

I see... so you're as stupid as he is, R3.

Agree with R1

The militant Québécois will get in your face if you don't try to gabble along in French but most Montrealers are trés trés cool.

We JUST did this

Maybe read a history book once in blue moon...French and English are official languages of Canada.

French alone is the official language of Quebec though.

[quote]Maybe read a history book once in blue moon...French and English are official languages of Canada.

NO! YOU read it. Let me know what it says.

Merci en avance.

I love Montreal. Been there 25 times. The men are hot, too. However, they speak a provincial version of French that is bastardized with English.

[quote]I love Montreal. Been there 25 times.

What's the food like? Very French bistro? Croissants for breakfast?

[quote] The men are hot, too. However, they speak a provincial version of French that is bastardized with English.

Just the men or the women and the children too?

R7, aren’t they different threads? This is about Montreal as a center of French-influenced culture. The other is about Montreal as THE important Canadian center.

As an American tourist you can get along with English, though it's nice to use the niceties of Merci! Bonjour and Bonsoir.

The city is not homophobic in the least. It's has a prominent Gay Village, even mentioning so in their tourist info.

They get dickie if you speak Parisian and not their dialect.

So, if R8 were to enter a shop in Montreal they'd say "Puis-je vous aider, Madame?"

[quote]As an American tourist you can get along with English

No, you can't. If you try to speak English to them they will ignore you.

There is something uniquely homophobic about Quebec that isn't true of its equivalents in Anglo-Canada.

Yes, Chez Schwartz, Charcuterie Hebraique, sounds French!

Doesn't sound English exactly.

That is why the rest of Canada deteste Quebec.

[quote]There is something uniquely homophobic about Quebec that isn't true of its equivalents in Anglo-Canada

THIS I can believe.

Not homophobic. Actually more gay than most american cities. And fun!

How did you not know that French was the main language in Montreal?

Does it sound as bad to the French as they claim? I’m guessing it’s past the simple differences of Australian English vs. US English since another language (from another language family) factors in so heavily.

[quote]Does it sound as bad to the French as they claim?

How did you not know this?

[quote] Not homophobic. Actually more gay than most american cities. And fun!

Depends on the city. The thing is, if you go to a supposedly cosmopolitan city in the US (and avoid the places you know to avoid) you can generally have a safe time.

Not so, necessarily, in Quebec.

It's the same in France vs the UK too. A lot of people who you might think would be progressive when it comes to Gay Men are anything but and won't hesitate to mock effeminity or call you a faggot or some variant in a way that just doesn't happen in Vancouver.

Montreal homophobic?

Oh my sides!

Even today a lot of French films and TV shows mock gay men in a way the BBC never would.

[quote]Even today a lot of French films and TV shows mock gay men in a way the BBC never would.

I was shocked by the homophobia in Ricky Gervais's "Extras" - disguised as hilarity and sometimes not bothering to do that.

Quebec had civil unions and gay marriage before the UK.

US had gay marriage before Austria.

Quebec has gay marriage AFTER BC and Ontario.

There's the French thing and then there is the Catholic thing. Many times, they are the same, but one must be careful and parse the situation.

OP: I admire French Canadians (Québec, Montréal...) ; They're fighting against the "TOTALITARIAN ANGLOPHONISATION". Learning and speaking English is not an obligation.......

Bravo et Longue Vie aux Canadiens Français.

[quote]They're fighting against the "TOTALITARIAN ANGLOPHONISATION".

There's no such thing. They are not victims. If anything, they are the totalitarian ones.

They have legal pot now too.

I don’t find Montreal to be a homophobic city - and in fact have always enjoyed visiting it, but French Canadian culture does have some of the “Je suis allergic to PC bullshit, come at me, bro!” attitude that the French apply when it comes to other cultures and groups, while simultaneously being hyper-sensitive about external criticism. I would also put forward that the French Canadian sense of humour sucks - shitty remakes of sitcoms from America and France; the horrible clowns from Cirque De Soleil; that Just For Laughs TV prank show, which was like a horrible mashup of Punk’d and Benny Hill. Why Montreal insists on having a comedy festival when it is the least funny city in Canada still baffles me.

Pot la Legal, R37!!!

Montreal is a great visit.

Really good (not great) food .

A surprising amount of shoe stores. They're everywhere.

Not homophobic at all. It's as close to Europe as I have ever found in North America. The old city is charming.

And as for the French language stuff, I've found that if you at least make an attempt, you will be treated well.

Oh, and sex. Lots of sex. The guys are hot.

As Joan Rivers used to say, "It's like being in France, but you guys bathe."

I don't think the food is great.

It's interesting how they seem to have absorbed all the worst aspects of North American culture yet are so militant about the language.

As Joan Rivers used to say, "It's like being in France, but you guys bathe"

Did she mention how they bum cigarettes from you in a bar because their's cost so much and they're so fukkin' cheap?

[quote]Not homophobic at all.

Homophobic somewhat for an otherwise very left-wing and white city.

[quote]It's as close to Europe as I have ever found in North America. The old city is charming.

The parts of it that actually could pass for being European are very small though. Same is true of Quebec City. Then there are some nice but not distinctive neighborhoods then a lot of identical suburbs.

[quote]Did she mention how they bum cigarettes from you in a bar

You can smoke in the bars?

Doesn't the whole "American" "Pancakes with Maple Syrup" for breakfast come from Canada in fact?

I was standing in queue in Montreal Airport when the elderly woman behind me tapped me on the shoulder and asked me something in Quebecois. My French is basic, but I'm lost in Quebecois. I said to her "Je suis desole Madame. Comprend pas". The old lady either didn't understand me or didn't care and kept right on going in Quebecois. I just nodded, smiled politely and said "Oui, Madame. Oui Madame".

Very adroit, R46.

(R46) Well, now you know how you feel when you don't speak English "fluently" and Americans don't care and keep going in English, because as you know when your English is very "basic" it's unbelievable and unbearable!!!!

[quote] ([R46]) Well, now you know how you feel when you don't speak English "fluently" and Americans don't care and keep going in English, because as you know when your English is very "basic" it's unbelievable and unbearable!!!!

I disagree. Most English speakers are more generous and constructive. French Canadians often try to be deliberately intransigent.

[quote]Most English speakers are more generous and constructive.

LOL.

Oh, dear. Maybe in your dreams, but not in real life!!! Where do you live ? under a rock ?!!!

You can put up a French sign anywhere in Canada without being prosecuted. Just try that in Quebec.

French Canadians are much more insular, cliquey, and skeptical of 'foreigners'.

And what do you think about the American flag, on the top of the "American houses" in full public view ?

Their provincial legislature, oddly called the National Assembly, sometimes only flies the provincial flag. It makes the other side of the speaker's chair look awkwardly bare.

It can't be any less funny than Toronto.

Good for Montréal and Quebec keeping it French.

Must everywhere be the same?

(R55) Why not ? English language is compulsory everywhere (Europe for example).

At least OP spelled Montréal correctly. It’s not Montreal, but Montréal.

What a laugh that Montréal is a homophobic city. Anything but! My French is passable, but I agree that any attempt will be met with kindness.

I do agree with the poster who said most English speakers will be generous with a foreigner and speak slowly/simplify the speech, whereas the same can’t be said for French speakers, both in Montréal and France. I was recently in Togo and Bénin and they did slow down their speech for me, so perhaps French-speaking West Africa is a little more forgiving.

It's a very gay town, and obviously the gay village is the epicenter. Lots of street cruising and 70's style cruise bars. Nice throwback.

Yeah, right. Looks very homophobic.

And all this time I had thought they spoke Korean there! What a surprise!

[bold]Montreal’s Gay Village (also called Le Village) is one of the biggest in North America. It is located on the east side of the city. Before the influx of gay and lesbian businesses, it was a poor working-class neighborhood. The heyday of the area was in the late 1990s. The revenue generated by stores, bars and clubs in Le Village has been dropping since then. A number have closed and the ones that remain are being forced to reinvent themselves to stay in business. However, is the decline a positive sign? Many believe it is the result of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender lifestyle being more broadly accepted and LGBT people feeling comfortable in other parts of Montreal besides just Le Village.[/bold]

R57, you do realise that there is an English spelling for Montreal, ie. without the accent, and an English pronunciation. Anglophones say Cologne and Turin, not Köln and Torino. When speaking in English, you don't suddenly throw in the French pronunciation for "Paris". That's highly pretentious.

The use of languages on signage is regulated by provincial law. It essentially states that French must be the most prominent language on all signage - in practice most people just use French only. Government signage, e.g. road signs, are required to use French only.

It’s odd to wander through Montréal’s Chinatown (it’s tiny but does exist) and see bilingual or French-only signs everywhere, instead of Chinese-only ones.

I visited Montreal and Quebec City a couple years ago. I was a little worried about the language issue (I only speak English and a few words of French), but it wasn't a problem at all. The only time I had an issue was two Uber drivers in Quebec City who only spoke French. Most people I spoke with were completely bilingual and didn't see it as an issue at all. And, as anywhere in Canada, the people are nice and friendly. I had a great time in both cities and would go back anytime.

Ville-Marie, later renamed to Montréal, was founded in 1642 by the French, so it goes back a while.

Here, OP. Read and learn.

As Joan Rivers once said,

"Well...fah fah, fah fah, FAH FAH!"

R53 The National Assembley is in Quebec City. Note the crucifix on the blue screen behind the president's chair. The chamber, if I remember correctly, featured in "I Confess" with Monty Clift and others. A feature of Montreal is that many of the street names were adapted to the official French: eg avenue du Docteur-Penfield [Dr Penfield Avenue]; rue Stanley [Street]; rue Sherbrooke [Street].

[quote]Why not ? English language is compulsory everywhere (Europe for example).

Compulsory in Europe? Could you explain what you mean by that?

R69 English is THE language at the European Commission. Weirdly, that is not likely to change if the UK leaves the EU (even though after that English will only be an official language of two member states, Malta and the Republic of Ireland).

[quote]English is THE language at the European Commission.

Well of course if you qualify it to "the European Commission".

But it's use is not compulsory among the people of non-English speaking European countries.

The statement: "English language is compulsory everywhere (Europe for example)", is false.

[quote]But it's use is not compulsory

Oh, dear.

[quote]The statement: "English language is compulsory everywhere (Europe for example)", is false.

False? It's hilarious.

R72 They don't make R71's mistake in the Commission much.

OP's just not a lady with her cussin'.

Just visit Hollywood Beach, Florida, in winter - gobs of Canadian Frenchies swarming on the beaches and at the bars. Very cliquish, and most speak very little English.

The Quebec government requires all official signs to be in French only. If you're Canadian language in Quebec becomes a control thing, i.e. "no, we're going to talk in MY language." If you're visiting and it's clear you're an American who doesn't speak French you'll be fine. They're happy for the tourist bucks.

Also, more fat uncut dick than you can possibly handle.

[quote] That is why the rest of Canada deteste Quebec.

I thought it was Toronto that the rest of Canada hates so much?

[quote]I love Montreal. Been there 25 times.

You kept count?

[quote] Also, more fat uncut dick than you can possibly handle.

R77 tell us more.

Agreed R62

Though for some reason that rule goes out the window when NPR announcers get to Spanish place names and, recently, Chinese ones.

Vive le Québec libre!

R72 I always get that wrong.

Wow, you’re really stupid, OP. And completely lacking in self-awareness too. A real double-whammy of dumbness. Is shame an emotion that you’ve ever experienced?

The European French that is taught in non-Canadian schools, and various teach yourself methods, will do you little good with rapid-fire Quebecois.

This was years ago, but I understand that the virulently homophobic police force are given free rein to do whatever they fuking want anytime anywhere!

[quote]Wow, you’re really stupid, OP. And completely lacking in self-awareness too. A real double-whammy of dumbness. Is shame an emotion that you’ve ever experienced?

Only a stupid person would consider what I wrote as stupid.

But you're too stupid to understand that.

We had some Canadians as school (Paris, France). The girl looked wholesome and she was bright. One of the Quebec guys was gorgeous; the others looked like what we would now call deplorables and spoke a 'French' which was incomprehensible (on purpose) when they spoke between themselves; when the guys spoke to us the French was barely understandable and peppered with such exclamations as "ventrebleu!" and "tabarnak!".

Ok the “ventrebleu” does not compute. nice try ostie.

What do the French Canadians call the English speaking Canadians? The English?

The Amish call the non-Amish Americans "The English".

Quebec homophobic? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH

[quote]The Amish call the non-Amish Americans "The English".

I saw the movie "Witness" too.

No OP - not R84 here - your post came off as so stupidly parochial American that I assumed that it had to be a joke. Your reply in R86 confirms that you weren’t joking, and that you’re even stupider than I first thought.

I was an eye-witness R88. Thanks for reminding me of 'ostie': dreadful.

beau mec

[quote] No OP - not [R84] here - your post came off as so stupidly parochial American that I assumed that it had to be a joke.

Odd, considering I'm NOT American.

But you're too fucking limited to even take that into consideration - or maybe you're just a parochial American yourself.

[quote] parochial American

I understand that Quebecois guys no longer have their teeth pulled at puberty, so that they have dentures for most of their life, for the better blow jobs.

[quote]If you're Canadian language in Quebec becomes a control thing, i.e. "no, we're going to talk in MY language." If you're visiting and it's clear you're an American who doesn't speak French you'll be fine. They're happy for the tourist bucks.

Aha! This explains a lot.

Montreal and by extension Quebec are horrible dumpy places. They had their moments in the 90s but when all the English speakers left, the bikers moved in.

It’s a hole that clings to its past.

All the guys are hung and uncut, who gives a fuck about what language hey speak!

[quote]What do the French Canadians call the English speaking Canadians?

Les Maudits Anglais

Maudits is optional. There also the occasional Maudits français referring to the ones from France, especially when their old colonialist “better than thou” creeps in.

Some people there might treat English speakers who they suspect are Canadian differently from those they suspect are American or international. They are less willing to try and understand the Canadians. And, if you stick to the very touristy places only, it's more English-friendly, but go beyond them (not even into La Ville de Bumfuck de Deplorable [of which Quebec has many]) and they are much more hostile.

I don't really like trips where you can only do to the tourist approved places. I like to see real places and explore. And the arrogance and Trumpesque qualities of a lot of Quebec aren't good for that.

It's amazing the amount of time and attention that they have wasted on the French language in Quebec. Can you imagine if they spent all that time instead focused on climate change?

The rest of Canada had forgotten Montreal even exists. And that horrible quacking duck pidgin "French" ...quack quack quack..

It's a bit like Philadelphia or Detroit. More relevant a hundred years ago, now...

r104 the province already runs on hydro power which they also export to eastern Canada and the northeast US. What more do you want?

It's not just climate change. That's just an example. It's everything. Canadian politics for decades has been dominated by Quebec's self-obsession. If it have just been a normal English speaking province maybe more effort could be made on tackling serious issues.

Quebec just drags Canada down. We need to kick 'em out.

Quebec used to be thought of as the New York of Canada. It's now revealing itself to be more the West Virginia of Canada.

Is OP on the spectrum? Has he been tested?