Thériault, Joseph Yvon
Language and Politics in Quebec: Between Memory and Distancing
- 2007.
3
By referring to the old German distinction between culture and civilization, this article aims to show the geopolitical risks of languages in Quebec. Three moments in history bring to light a different link between language, power, and geopolitics: The French Empire, French Canada, and Quebec. By retracing the history of these moments, the national language's history is revealed as a mediator between culture and civilization. That is the reason why Quebec remains a central political issue today: How can we maintain a link between civilization and culture through language?