First Congress on the French Language in Canada
Encyclopedia
The First Congress on the French Language in Canada (French
: Premier Congrès de la langue française au Canada) was held in Quebec City
from June 24 to June 30, 1912. Its stated objective was to "examine the questions raised by the defence, the culture and the development of the French language and literature in Canada."
(SPFC) resolved to organize and convoke a Congress on the French Language in Canada to be held in the course of 1912, in Quebec City, under the patronage of Université Laval
. The SPFC set up an organizing committee composed of ten of its members, under the presidency of Mgr Paul-Eugène Roy
, in order to set the date of the congress and see to the preparation of the event.
Some two months later, on April 10, while the organizing was in progress, the committee sent a message "to all the French Canadian
s and to all the Acadian
s who have at heart the conservation of their language and their nationality" to invite them to take part to this first congress from Monday June 24 to Sunday June 30. While the Congress's name mentions the French language "in Canada", the organizers explicitly addressed their invitation to all the French speakers of America. Regional committees were formed by the general organizing committee to recruit members as much in Quebec
as in Ontario
, Western Canada
, in the Atlantic provinces or the United States
.
The organizing committee, wanting to make the congress a milestone event, sought the participation of civil society and the representatives of political and religious powers. The Quebec government, headed by Liberal premier
Lomer Gouin
was very favourable to holding the Congress in the historical capital of Quebec. In addition to the rooms of the Université Laval, the congress members were granted access to the rooms of the provincial Parliament Building
.
The opening of the Congress on June 24 was intended to associate the event with a great day of patriotism and confer to it a solemn, popular and festive character. On June 23 and 24, just before the official opening of the Congress, its members were invited to participate to the "National Day of the French Canadians" which was organized by the Saint-Sauveur de Québec chapter of the Association Saint-Jean-Baptiste
(ASJB) and other affiliated branches. As part of the programme were the traditional mass, procession, banquet, speeches, entertainment, etc.
At 8:00 PM on June 24, the opening session of the Congress held in the Salle des exercices militaires on Grande Allée street was the occasion of great pomp with music and speeches from the principal officers of the Congress, the Lieutenant Governor
François Langelier
, members of the Catholic clergy, the former prime minister of Canada
Wilfrid Laurier
, the premier of Quebec Lomer Gouin, Charles-Eudes Bonin, of the general consulate of France in Quebec City, Étienne Lamy
, delegate of the Académie française
, the mayor of Quebec Napoléon Drouin, ministers from the provinces of Ontario and the Maritimes, etc.
The room was decorated with the flags of Great Britain, Canada
, Quebec
, France, the United States, and also the Carillon Sacré-Cœur
. The musicians played God Save the Queen
, the national anthem
of both Great Britain and the Dominion of Canada, Ô Canada
, then the national anthem of French Canadians, as well as other patriotic or traditional airs such as Vive la Canadienne, À la claire fontaine, Ô Canada! mon pays, mes amours
, etc.
Individuals who became member of the congress received a 96-page Guide du congressiste, and a medal badge crafted by Alexandre Morlon on which were carved the words of French poet Gustave Zidler: C'est notre doux parler qui nous conserve frères. ("It is our gentle speech that keeps us brothers.")
In addition to the serious work of the different study sections, the programme of the Congress included activities of a more symbolic character such as the inauguration, Tuesday June 25 at 3:00PM, of the monument to Honoré Mercier
on the Quebec parliamentary hill, the awarding of honorific diplomas from the Université Laval, as well as other activities that today would be judged "touristic", such as the Wednesday June 26 morning expedition to the Petit-Cap, the summer residence of the Messieurs of the Séminaire de Québec, located in Saint-Joachim de Montmorency. Abbott Charles Thellier de Poncheville and poet Gustave Zidler, who arrived on the morning of June 26, took part to this excursion where congress members feasted, sang songs, read poems, and gave more speeches.
Friday June 28 was reserved to the delegates of New England
, Armand Bédard, president of the Boston Franco-American Historical Society and Mr. Henri-T. Ledoux, president of the Union Saint-Jean-Baptiste d'Amérique, who came to Quebec to give the right hour on the situation of the francophone communities in the United States.
On the morning of Saturday June 29, the plenary assembly of the congress unanimously adopted the proposition of MM. Jean-Baptiste Lagacé and Adjutor Rivard to set up a Permanent Committee of the Congresses on the French language in America whose purpose was "to defend, to cultivate, extend, and develop the French language and literature in Canada and in general among the Acadians and French Canadians of North America". In addition to this general mandate, the permanent committee was given the specific mandate to "ensure the publication of the acts, the realization of the vows, and the continuation of the work of the Congress on the French language in Canada". At 9:00PM, at diner was held in the celebration room of the Château Frontenac
, which in 1912 was only 20 years old.
On Sunday June 30, at 9:00AM, a mass was given at the Notre-Dame de Québec Cathedral
and in the afternoon, a procession organized by the Association catholique de la jeunesse canadienne-française (ACJC) circulated in Quebec City. A closing general session was held at the Salle des exercices militaires, and afterwards all members were invited to attend a fireworks show before the Parliament.
Of the 19 memoirs pertaining to scientific subjects, seven were concerned with the history of the French language in Canada, seven other pertained to the legal situation of French throughout the Canadian federation and in the United States, and the remaining five discussed the philological questions.
The 21 memoirs of the education section gave Congress members a statistical overview of the teaching of French in Canada and the United States.
The 10 memoirs presented to the literary section discussed the state and future of Canadian literature, its development and propagation, its place in schools, etc.
The 15 memoirs of the section on propaganda were concerned with the quality of French in the press, in the associations, at home, in industry, trade, sciences and public service.
Scientific section
The sub-section on history formulated four vows:
The sub-section on law:
The sub-section on philology:
Pedagogical section
Concerning primary education, the pedagogical section formulated the vows:
Concerning secondary education, its vows were:
Literary section
The literary section's vows were:
Propaganda section
The three sub-sections of the propaganda section formulated numerous vows.
Sub-section A (associations) wanted:
Sub-section B (family, social relations, the press, etc.):
Sub-section C (commerce, industry, the arts and sciences):
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
: Premier Congrès de la langue française au Canada) was held in Quebec City
Quebec City
Quebec , also Québec, Quebec City or Québec City is the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec and is located within the Capitale-Nationale region. It is the second most populous city in Quebec after Montreal, which is about to the southwest...
from June 24 to June 30, 1912. Its stated objective was to "examine the questions raised by the defence, the culture and the development of the French language and literature in Canada."
Organization
On February 14, 1911, the executive office of the Société du parler français au CanadaSociété du parler français au Canada
The Société du parler français au Canada was a learned society that endeavoured to study the French language spoken in Canada in the course of the 20th century...
(SPFC) resolved to organize and convoke a Congress on the French Language in Canada to be held in the course of 1912, in Quebec City, under the patronage of Université Laval
Université Laval
Laval University is the oldest centre of education in Canada and was the first institution in North America to offer higher education in French...
. The SPFC set up an organizing committee composed of ten of its members, under the presidency of Mgr Paul-Eugène Roy
Paul-Eugène Roy
Paul-Eugène Roy was a Canadian Roman Catholic priest, and Archbishop of Quebec.-External links:*...
, in order to set the date of the congress and see to the preparation of the event.
Some two months later, on April 10, while the organizing was in progress, the committee sent a message "to all the French Canadian
French Canadian
French Canadian or Francophone Canadian, , generally refers to the descendents of French colonists who arrived in New France in the 17th and 18th centuries...
s and to all the Acadian
Acadian
The Acadians are the descendants of the 17th-century French colonists who settled in Acadia . Acadia was a colony of New France...
s who have at heart the conservation of their language and their nationality" to invite them to take part to this first congress from Monday June 24 to Sunday June 30. While the Congress's name mentions the French language "in Canada", the organizers explicitly addressed their invitation to all the French speakers of America. Regional committees were formed by the general organizing committee to recruit members as much in Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
as in Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Western Canada
Western Canada
Western Canada, also referred to as the Western provinces and commonly as the West, is a region of Canada that includes the four provinces west of the province of Ontario.- Provinces :...
, in the Atlantic provinces or the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
The organizing committee, wanting to make the congress a milestone event, sought the participation of civil society and the representatives of political and religious powers. The Quebec government, headed by Liberal premier
Premier of Quebec
The Premier of Quebec is the first minister of the Canadian province of Quebec. The Premier is the province's head of government and his title is Premier and President of the Executive Council....
Lomer Gouin
Lomer Gouin
Sir Jean Lomer Gouin, PC, KCMG was a Canadian politician.-Biography:He was born in Grondines, Quebec and served as 13th Premier of the Canadian province of Quebec, as a Cabinet minister in the federal government of Canada, and as the 15th Lieutenant Governor of Quebec.On May 24, 1888, he married...
was very favourable to holding the Congress in the historical capital of Quebec. In addition to the rooms of the Université Laval, the congress members were granted access to the rooms of the provincial Parliament Building
Parliament Building (Quebec)
The Parliament Building is an eight-floor building and home to the Parliament of Quebec in Quebec City. The building was designed by architect Eugène-Étienne Taché and was built from 1877 to 1886. With the frontal tower, the building stands at 52 metres or 171 feet in height...
.
The opening of the Congress on June 24 was intended to associate the event with a great day of patriotism and confer to it a solemn, popular and festive character. On June 23 and 24, just before the official opening of the Congress, its members were invited to participate to the "National Day of the French Canadians" which was organized by the Saint-Sauveur de Québec chapter of the Association Saint-Jean-Baptiste
Saint-Jean-Baptiste Society
The Saint-Jean-Baptiste Society is an institution in Quebec dedicated to the protection of Quebec francophone interests and to the promotion of Quebec Sovereignism. Its current President is Mario Beaulieu....
(ASJB) and other affiliated branches. As part of the programme were the traditional mass, procession, banquet, speeches, entertainment, etc.
At 8:00 PM on June 24, the opening session of the Congress held in the Salle des exercices militaires on Grande Allée street was the occasion of great pomp with music and speeches from the principal officers of the Congress, the Lieutenant Governor
Lieutenant Governor of Quebec
The Lieutenant Governor of Quebec : Lieutenant-gouverneur du Québec, or : Lieutenant-gouverneure du Québec) is the viceregal representative in Quebec of the Canadian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, who operates distinctly within the province but is also shared equally with the ten other jurisdictions...
François Langelier
François Langelier
Sir François Langelier, KCMG was a Canadian lawyer, professor, journalist, politician, the tenth Lieutenant Governor of Quebec, and author. He was born in Sainte-Rosalie, Lower Canada and died in Spencerwood, Quebec.In 1871, he was an unsuccessful candidate to the Legislative Assembly of Quebec...
, members of the Catholic clergy, the former prime minister of Canada
Prime Minister of Canada
The Prime Minister of Canada is the primary minister of the Crown, chairman of the Cabinet, and thus head of government for Canada, charged with advising the Canadian monarch or viceroy on the exercise of the executive powers vested in them by the constitution...
Wilfrid Laurier
Wilfrid Laurier
Sir Wilfrid Laurier, GCMG, PC, KC, baptized Henri-Charles-Wilfrid Laurier was the seventh Prime Minister of Canada from 11 July 1896 to 6 October 1911....
, the premier of Quebec Lomer Gouin, Charles-Eudes Bonin, of the general consulate of France in Quebec City, Étienne Lamy
Étienne Lamy
Étienne Marie Victor Lamy was a French author, born in Cize, Jura. He was educated at the College Stanislas and became a doctor of law in 1870. From 1871 to 1881 he was a deputy from his native department, Jura, and his earlier writings were political and historical...
, delegate of the Académie française
Académie française
L'Académie française , also called the French Academy, is the pre-eminent French learned body on matters pertaining to the French language. The Académie was officially established in 1635 by Cardinal Richelieu, the chief minister to King Louis XIII. Suppressed in 1793 during the French Revolution,...
, the mayor of Quebec Napoléon Drouin, ministers from the provinces of Ontario and the Maritimes, etc.
The room was decorated with the flags of Great Britain, Canada
Red Ensign
The Red Ensign or "Red Duster" is a flag that originated in the early 17th century as a British ensign flown by the Royal Navy and later specifically by British merchantmen. The precise date of its first appearance is not known, but surviving receipts indicate that the Navy was paying to have such...
, Quebec
Blue Ensign
The Blue Ensign is a flag, one of several British ensigns, used by certain organisations or territories associated with the United Kingdom. It is used either plain, or defaced with a badge or other emblem....
, France, the United States, and also the Carillon Sacré-Cœur
Flag of Quebec
The flag of Quebec, called the Fleurdelisé, was adopted for the province by the government of Quebec, during the administration of Maurice Duplessis. It was the first provincial flag officially adopted in Canada, first shown on January 21, 1948, at the Parliament Building of the National Assembly...
. The musicians played God Save the Queen
God Save the Queen
"God Save the Queen" is an anthem used in a number of Commonwealth realms and British Crown Dependencies. The words of the song, like its title, are adapted to the gender of the current monarch, with "King" replacing "Queen", "he" replacing "she", and so forth, when a king reigns...
, the national anthem
National anthem
A national anthem is a generally patriotic musical composition that evokes and eulogizes the history, traditions and struggles of its people, recognized either by a nation's government as the official national song, or by convention through use by the people.- History :Anthems rose to prominence...
of both Great Britain and the Dominion of Canada, Ô Canada
O Canada
It has been noted that the opening theme of "O Canada" bears a strong resemblance to the "Marsch der Priester" , from the opera Die Zauberflöte , composed in 1791 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and that Lavallée's melody was inspired by Mozart's tune...
, then the national anthem of French Canadians, as well as other patriotic or traditional airs such as Vive la Canadienne, À la claire fontaine, Ô Canada! mon pays, mes amours
Ô Canada! mon pays, mes amours
The lyrics to "Ô Canada! mon pays, mes amours", a French-Canadian song, were written by George-Étienne Cartier, and are not to be confused with the other O Canada , which today is the official anthem of Canada. They were first sung in 1834, during a patriotic banquet of the Saint-Jean-Baptiste...
, etc.
Progression
The Congress was made of four study sections: scientific, pedagogical, literary and propaganda. It held eight general sessions in addition to the various sessions of each section which occurred independently under the direction of their own executive office. In the sessions held by the study sections, participants presented memoirs, gave speeches, deliberated and formulated "vows" and propositions related to their study field. In the general sessions, participants gave patriotic speeches on the French language and rapporteurs gave an account of the work done by the sections before all congress members. The assembly of all congress members ratified the reports and voted for or against the vows and propositions coming from the sections.| Scientific Section | ||
|---|---|---|
| President : Pascal Poirier Pascal Poirier Pascal Poirier was a Canadian author, lawyer, and the all-time longest-serving Senator.Born in Shediac, New Brunswick, he wrote books on Acadian history and language. The Pascal Poirier House, a Provincial Historic Site , is on the Canadian Register of Historic Places... |
||
| Sub-section on history | Sub-section on law | Sub-section on philology |
| President : Joseph-Edmond Roy Joseph-Edmond Roy Joseph-Edmond Roy was a Quebec notary, editor, historian and political figure.He was born in Pointe-Lévy in 1858, the son of notary Léon Roy. Roy studied at the Collège de Lévis and the Séminaire de Québec, finally studying law at the Université Laval. He became editor of Le Quotidien at Lévis... Secretary : Thomas Nadeau Rapporteur : Antonio Huot |
President : M. A. Constantineau Secretary : Oscar Hamel Rapporteur : Joseph-Évariste Prince |
President : Alcée Fortier Alcée Fortier Alcée Fortier was a renowned Professor of Romance Languages at Tulane University in New Orleans. In the late 19th and early 20th century, he published numerous works on language, literature, Louisiana history and folklore, Louisiana Créole languages, and personal reminiscence. His perspective... Secretary : J.-E. Plamondon Rapporteur : Émile Chartier Émile Chartier Émile-Auguste Chartier, commonly known as Alain was a French philosopher, journalist, and pacifist.Alain entered lycée d'Alençon in 1881 and studied there for five years... |
| Pedagogical Section | ||
| President: Pierre Boucher de la Bruère Pierre Boucher de la Bruère Pierre Boucher de la Bruère was a Canadian lawyer, journalist, author, office holder, and politician.... Secretary: Charles-Joseph Magnan Rapporteurs: Philippe Perrier (primary school) and Narcisse Degagné (high school) |
||
| Literary Section | ||
| President: Ferdinand Roy Secretary: Jean-Baptiste Lagacé Rapporteur: Camille Roy Camille Roy Camille Roy was a Canadian politician and a three-term Member of the Legislative Assembly of Quebec.-Background:He was born on July 13, 1911 in Nicolet, Centre-du-Québec. He became a farmer.-Political career:... |
||
| Propaganda Section | ||
| President: Thomas Chapais Thomas Chapais Sir Joseph Amable Thomas Chapais was a French Canadian author, editor, historian, journalist, professor, and politician.... |
||
| Sub-section A: Associations | Sub-section B: Family, social relations, the press, etc. | Sub-section C: Commerce and industry, the arts and sciences |
| President: Thomas Chapais Thomas Chapais Sir Joseph Amable Thomas Chapais was a French Canadian author, editor, historian, journalist, professor, and politician.... Secretary: Pierre-Georges Roy Rapporteur: Élie Auclair |
President: Eugène Rouillard Secretary: Amédée Denault Rapporteur: Théophile Hudon |
President: Armand Bédard Secretary: Cyrille Gagnon Rapporteur: Hector Bernier |
Individuals who became member of the congress received a 96-page Guide du congressiste, and a medal badge crafted by Alexandre Morlon on which were carved the words of French poet Gustave Zidler: C'est notre doux parler qui nous conserve frères. ("It is our gentle speech that keeps us brothers.")
In addition to the serious work of the different study sections, the programme of the Congress included activities of a more symbolic character such as the inauguration, Tuesday June 25 at 3:00PM, of the monument to Honoré Mercier
Honoré Mercier
Honoré Mercier was a lawyer, journalist and politician in Quebec, Canada. He was the ninth Premier of Quebec from January 27, 1887 to December 21, 1891, as leader of the Parti National or Quebec Liberal Party ....
on the Quebec parliamentary hill, the awarding of honorific diplomas from the Université Laval, as well as other activities that today would be judged "touristic", such as the Wednesday June 26 morning expedition to the Petit-Cap, the summer residence of the Messieurs of the Séminaire de Québec, located in Saint-Joachim de Montmorency. Abbott Charles Thellier de Poncheville and poet Gustave Zidler, who arrived on the morning of June 26, took part to this excursion where congress members feasted, sang songs, read poems, and gave more speeches.
Friday June 28 was reserved to the delegates of New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
, Armand Bédard, president of the Boston Franco-American Historical Society and Mr. Henri-T. Ledoux, president of the Union Saint-Jean-Baptiste d'Amérique, who came to Quebec to give the right hour on the situation of the francophone communities in the United States.
On the morning of Saturday June 29, the plenary assembly of the congress unanimously adopted the proposition of MM. Jean-Baptiste Lagacé and Adjutor Rivard to set up a Permanent Committee of the Congresses on the French language in America whose purpose was "to defend, to cultivate, extend, and develop the French language and literature in Canada and in general among the Acadians and French Canadians of North America". In addition to this general mandate, the permanent committee was given the specific mandate to "ensure the publication of the acts, the realization of the vows, and the continuation of the work of the Congress on the French language in Canada". At 9:00PM, at diner was held in the celebration room of the Château Frontenac
Château Frontenac
The Château Frontenac, currently known as Fairmont Le Château Frontenac, is a grand hotel in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. It was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1980...
, which in 1912 was only 20 years old.
On Sunday June 30, at 9:00AM, a mass was given at the Notre-Dame de Québec Cathedral
Notre-Dame de Québec Cathedral
The Cathedral-minor basilica of Notre-Dame de Québec , located at 20, rue de Buade, Quebec City, Quebec, is the primate church of Canada and seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Quebec, the oldest see in the New World north of Mexico.It is also the parish church of the oldest parish in North...
and in the afternoon, a procession organized by the Association catholique de la jeunesse canadienne-française (ACJC) circulated in Quebec City. A closing general session was held at the Salle des exercices militaires, and afterwards all members were invited to attend a fireworks show before the Parliament.
Memoirs
The four sections of the Congress received a total of 65 memoirs.Of the 19 memoirs pertaining to scientific subjects, seven were concerned with the history of the French language in Canada, seven other pertained to the legal situation of French throughout the Canadian federation and in the United States, and the remaining five discussed the philological questions.
The 21 memoirs of the education section gave Congress members a statistical overview of the teaching of French in Canada and the United States.
The 10 memoirs presented to the literary section discussed the state and future of Canadian literature, its development and propagation, its place in schools, etc.
The 15 memoirs of the section on propaganda were concerned with the quality of French in the press, in the associations, at home, in industry, trade, sciences and public service.
Vows
The first congress led to the adoption of a long series of declarations and vows by the congress members who took part to the different study sections.Scientific section
The sub-section on history formulated four vows:
- that the names of the "most valiant apostles and defenders of our idiom in this country" be taught in schools and colleges and that monuments be erected in their honour;
- that a historical section of the SPFC be founded to make history be better known;
- that French Canadians of Quebec and the emigrants to the United States be encouraged to grow the ranks of the French communities settled in Western Canada, Ontario and the Maritimes
- that a Colonization Bureau be founded in Quebec City with correspondence bureaus in the West.
The sub-section on law:
- that a special committee "responsible to watch over the legislation pertaining to language rights" be formed;
- that everywhere in Canada where important French-speaking groups exist that the French language be maintained or established at the same level as English;
- that the committee makes the people know their rights; that the defence of the rights of the French language be required from election candidates.
The sub-section on philology:
- that the public be informed on the differences between languageLanguageLanguage may refer either to the specifically human capacity for acquiring and using complex systems of communication, or to a specific instance of such a system of complex communication...
, patoisPatoisPatois is any language that is considered nonstandard, although the term is not formally defined in linguistics. It can refer to pidgins, creoles, dialects, and other forms of native or local speech, but not commonly to jargon or slang, which are vocabulary-based forms of cant...
and dialectDialectThe term dialect is used in two distinct ways, even by linguists. One usage refers to a variety of a language that is a characteristic of a particular group of the language's speakers. The term is applied most often to regional speech patterns, but a dialect may also be defined by other factors,...
"so as to proscribe the absurd distinction that is made between Parisian French and Canadian French"; - that one answers "with scientific demonstrations to those who scorn the archaic character of the lexicologyLexicologyLexicology is the part of linguistics which studies words, their nature and meaning, words' elements, relations between words , word groups and the whole lexicon....
, phonetic and syntaxSyntaxIn linguistics, syntax is the study of the principles and rules for constructing phrases and sentences in natural languages....
of popular French in America"; - that the educated class take care of their speech and fight against errors and anglicisms;
- that schools teach students a "Catéchisme du parler français" (a table of the principal errors of phonetic, syntax, plus anglicisms and their French equivalent);
- that French orthography continue to conform to "the changes adopted by the Académie française in its report of March 9, 1905";
- that a permanent commission be set up "for the designation of newly explored areas in the province of Quebec";
- that a series of geographical maps be conceived to make the province known;
Pedagogical section
Concerning primary education, the pedagogical section formulated the vows:
- that the salaries of the school masters and school mistresses be increased;
- that catholic and bilingual normal schoolNormal schoolA normal school is a school created to train high school graduates to be teachers. Its purpose is to establish teaching standards or norms, hence its name...
s be opened in all provinces of Canada if possible; - that French speaking Canadians of Alberta and Saskatchewan demand primary education in French and no longer be satisfied with only half an hour of French;
- that the French language press of America protest against "the reduction of French in the primary schools of Ontario, and against the double inspection by English and French-Canadian inspectors";
- that a pedagogical faculty be founded in the University of OttawaUniversity of OttawaThe University of Ottawa is a bilingual, research-intensive, non-denominational, international university in Ottawa, Ontario. It is one of the oldest universities in Canada. It was originally established as the College of Bytown in 1848 by the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate...
; that a greater number of parish schools be built in New England; - that bilingual schools in which French remains the general schooling language be built;
- that a picture or a statue of the Sacred Heart of JesusSacred HeartThe Sacred Heart is one of the most famous religious devotions to Jesus' physical heart as the representation of His divine love for Humanity....
be in honour in bilingual schools; - that the Bulletin du Parler français au Canada and fascicle on anglicisms be addressed to the schools of Quebec;
- that the teaching of French in primary schools be improved by increasing the number of written exercises, awards to students for their efforts, and creating "bon parler" circles;
- that libraries be created in primary schools.
Concerning secondary education, its vows were:
- that colleges maintain the teaching of LatinLatinLatin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
and GreekGreek languageGreek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
as being useful to the defence and mastery of French; - that historical grammarHistorical linguisticsHistorical linguistics is the study of language change. It has five main concerns:* to describe and account for observed changes in particular languages...
also be maintained; - that the University of Ottawa and the collège Saint-BonifaceCollège universitaire de Saint-BonifaceThe Université de Saint-Boniface, or USB, is a university college affiliated with the University of Manitoba and located in the Saint Boniface district of Winnipeg, Manitoba , Canada....
receive more support and preserve the teaching of French; - that the Cercles du Parler français develop;
- that libraries be furnished with "works suited to the development of the mind, the elevation of the soul";
- that a place be granted to Canadian works, "notably those pertaining to history";
- that a Prix du Parler français be founded in all schools and colleges where it has not already been done.
Literary section
The literary section's vows were:
- that classical and modern literature be propagated as widely as possible;
- that French-Canadian literature be better known;
- that awards be granted for French-Canadian works "of a truly national character";
- that the dictionary of the SPFC be published as soon as possible to let the French of Canada be better known;
- that the study of history and Canadian literature be introduced as part of secondary education;
- that an École normale supérieure be established as soon as possible; that an inter-collegial bulletin be founded;
- that literary culture be developed as of primary school;
- that literature considered pornographic be fought against;
Propaganda section
The three sub-sections of the propaganda section formulated numerous vows.
Sub-section A (associations) wanted:
- that associations which are national in character be preferred over other types;
- that the French-Canadian and Acadian associations of Canada and the United States unite in their efforts all the while remaining distinct and autonomous;
- that branches of the ASJB and the ACJC be created in all French-Canadian milieus to foster the use and culture of the national language by literature nights and to celebrate June 24 everywhere;
- that predication and catechism be given in French in all parishes where it is possible;
- that mothers be incited to watch the quality of the French spoken by their children;
- that they nourish in their children the love of their language through national songs and tales;
- that mothers give the good example not only to their children but also to the fathers;
- that a feminine association corresponding to the ACJC be created;
- that marriage among French speakers be encouraged;
Sub-section B (family, social relations, the press, etc.):
- that the predication of catechism be given in French;
- that mothers correct their children, make them love the French language through "national and religious songs and tales";
- that mothers make use of their influence on the fathers so that these also give the example of good language, pure from vulgar expressions;
- that mothers raising children in the English provinces surround them with friends and maids who speak French;
- that daughters give the good example to their brothers;
- that parents have their children educated in French everywhere possible;
- that parents who are in a mixed marriage see that their children also learn French at home;
- that parents read books such as, for example, Colette Baudoche by Maurice BarrèsMaurice BarrèsMaurice Barrès was a French novelist, journalist, and socialist politician and agitator known for his nationalist and antisemitic views....
and Les Oberlé by René BazinRené BazinRené François Nicolas Marie Bazin was a French novelist.Born at Angers, he studied law in Paris, and on his return to Angers became Professor of Law in the Catholic university...
; - that those who give life to French-language newspapers become conscious of the influence they have on language;
- that citizens give financial support to their newspapers;
- that the SPFC sets up a network of committees in urban centres to maintain relations among newspaper editors;
Sub-section C (commerce, industry, the arts and sciences):
- that agricultural circles, societies and others distribute terminology guides;
- that professors and teachers endeavour to make plants, animals and minerals be known by their French name;
- that the government or an editing house publish a series of natural history tableaux illustrated in colour for schools;
- that professors of technical schools teach the French name of tools, mechanisms and machinery to fight against anglicisms in the technical vocabulary of industrials and workers;
- that bosses also learn the French terms to give the good example to workers;
- that illustrated tableaux be placed inside factories to show the French names of tools and machinery;
- that the victory of French in the transport industries encourage French Canadians and Acadians to use their language at all times in industrial and commercial relations as much among themselves as with other Canadians;
- that trade schools teach French business communication and bookkeeping;
- that even in the English stores, French Canadians and Acadians use the French language;
- that the preference be given to stores and industries that recognize and respect the rights of the French language.
Bibliographie
- Bélanger, Michel (2009). "Histoire de l'interventionnisme de l'État dans le domaine linguistique", in the site of the Société Saint-Jean-Baptiste de la Mauricie, 2009
- Martel, Marcel (1997). Le deuil d'un pays imaginé: rêves, luttes et déroute du Canada français : les rapports entre le Québec et la francophonie canadienne, 1867-1975, Ottawa: Presses de l'Université d'Ottawa, 203 p. ISBN 2760304396 (preview)
- CLFC (1914). Premier Congrès de la langue française au Canada. Québec, 24-30 juin, 1912. Mémoires, Québec: Imprimerie de l'Action sociale, 636 p. (online)
- CLFC (1913). Premier Congrès de la langue française au Canada. Québec, 24-30 juin, 1912. Compte rendu, Québec: Imprimerie de l'Action sociale, 693 p. (online)
- CLFC (1912). Album souvenir : le Congrès de la langue française au Canada et le IIIe Centenaire de Québec, 1608-1908, Québec: Le Soleil, 126 p. (online)
- CLFC (1912?). Premier congrès de la langue française au Canada : déclarations et vœux, Québec : Le Comité permanent du congrès de la langue française au Canada, Université Laval, 29 p.
- CLFC (1912?). Premier congrès de la langue française au Canada : Guide du congressiste, Québec: s.n., 96 p.