The Montreal Canadiens and the French language

[killykash]

This is what happens when politics (or quasi-politics in the case of Quebec) interferes with a national sport. There is NO PLACE for politics nor language DEBATE within ANY sport. It's THAT SIMPLE. The media has its hands tied because the "separatist fans" are all mouth in cases like this. Look, the Habs have had Franco coaches for decades, they won some cups, had some good games, that's HISTORY. Now, just focus on learning how to win games.

[genomsbeats]

Guardiola does in fact speak Catalan. I believe the language spoken in the team is Spanish though.

[6262323]

Bye Bye canadien de montreal et bonjour États-Unis.When they sell the team to the U.S. there be nothing to fight over.When a company has too much problems they sell the company.They worked so hard to not sell the team to a U.S owner but this will just muck it up.The N.H.L. will have no problem to move the team no matter the cost. The N.H.L owner is crazy and won't care about montreal's people.QUEBEC dose not own the N.H.L.Montreal FRENCH or english will lose the team they love so much:(

[6262323]

Sell the team to the U.S. to end the problem.

[murphy9238481]

most of the players dont speak french. So who cares? living in quebec is so screwed up. Its the one place in the world where being a english person makes you have a disadvantage. the french are so crazy about language laws here it makes me sick.

[tp230]

@murphy9238481 It's not that "being an English person" (I will assume you meant being an English native speaker) is a disadvantage, it's rather not learning and not being able to speak the local language that is a disadvantage. And that's the "one place in the world" ? Have you ever lived in a non-English speaking country ? Learn the local language and you'll have the advantage of speaking English and the local language. Fairly simple. (Another thing: Quebecois are not French, they're Canadian)

[LearningFrenchNow]

I agree. The coach needs to be able to speak the same language as the players and media in order to be effective. In the case of Québec, it's French.

[fahkqueue]

@LearningFrenchNow - every one of the players speak english, its the faggoty french speaking fans who are bitching and moaning about it

[wildnutria]

Look hockey is in english FACT! A hockey coach is to coach the players, and have a winning team, not to worry about french, if the need to have a speaker then just get a french guy and have him speak for the team in french, anyway the montreal canadens are a losing team just like quebec, a JOKE!! I am so happy to be a LEAFS FAN!! and to live in Ontario!!! Quebec SUCKS!!

[jasonUKbristol]

Here in England. A high profile italian manager who couldn't speak english was hired to manage the football team. He tried to reassure everyone that would learn english in 3 months. 5 years later and he is still struggling. Because of this has he has had much criticism from the news papers. So much so that the FA has promised that next manager must be english.

My view is that if all the players speak english then it's not a problem. if some only speak french then the manager should be bilingual.

[666mathew]

@jasonUKbristol What's the name of the coach and the team?

[FrancophoneHabsCoach]

having a francophone or at least a bilingual coach is very important for cultural and political reasons. anyone who disagrees doesn't understand quebec culture.

[ebman3]

i disagree that the coach must speak french, my reason is this: if randy cunneyworth was to go win a stanley cup with this team this year then everything would be fine and dandy. Nobody would complain and its the end of that. People just want something complain about it seems to be in peoples nature. Go get a translater, problem solved.

[sjmunoz]

hope this works :)

watch?v=KDV8SY_f9fA&feature=ch­annel_video_title

[lingosteve]

I was sent an excellent video response in French on this subject, an interview with Normand Lester. When I went to approve it, it was gone. Can anyone help me out on this?

[gerry135]

@lingosteve Don't know about the video response, but there are a lot of radical sepratists who, because of their uneducated perspectives, threaten those who want political freedom. It is possible that he was forced to remove his video. Politicians won't touch the subject because they afraid of what may come of it. The concept that it is a 'sensitive' subject has politicians avoiding it. Truth is, it's a serious matter concerning education that needs immediate attention.

[yuppysoul]

I'm not sure why you think this coach needs to speak french. I don't know much about hockey, but surely the "business" language you speak of for hockey is english.

I don't imagine down in Florida or even some parts of Canada most players speak french at all.

As for Guardiola (Current Barcelona Manager) I presume he speaks catalan as he is from catalonia. However, this is in no way a requirement, and nor should it be.

[awfulguitarplucker]

this is a reat point you just made: if one wants TRULY to communicate with the ethnical group is aporaching to, he must made an effort to comminicate in their own language

and as you named there too..Catalans are too very concerned on this discourse

[clarinini]

Haha, le pauvre... s'il doit apprendre le québécois, il n'est pas sorti du bois! Mais c'est vrai, même un tout petit peu de français serait probablement très très apprécié!

[loki2504]

@clarinini C'est intéressant vous dites : "il n'est pas sorti du bois" nous on dit "il n'est pas sorti de l'auberge" =) Un grand bonjour de Belgique !

[clarinini]

@loki2504 Intéressant, je ne savais pas ça!! J'adore ton canal en passant ;) Inspirant!

[lingosteve]

@clarinini Merci!