Quote:
Originally Posted by h1478971
what is the status of French in Montreal? is English common? can a unilingual English speaker survive there in a vacation?
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French is the majority official language used and the official language of the public sphere, so it's the language used for all the signs, but you'll sometimes see bilingual signs in shops. There is a very large English speaking minority in Montreal, mostly native English Quebeckers but also many transplants from other provinces/countries. The city's reality is that it's unofficially a bilingual city and the majority of people from both linguistic communities are bilingual, but French is default dominant. A unilingual Anglophone will not have any trouble in Montreal coming for a vacation, it's no stranger to unilingual tourists and most people will be able to speak to you in English. Some might struggle with the language, but it's widely understood. Do try to be polite, however, and learn some French phrases before you come. A few words of French, perhaps asking if someone speaks English before using it, will go a long way towards getting on people's good side.
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