Letting French students hear the diverse voices of francophony

This response to Jean-Marie Salien's editorial "Quebec French: Attitudes and Pedagogical Perspectives" (MLJ; 82, 1998, pp. 95-102) deals with linguistic variation-particularly as it exists in Quebec-and aims at familiarizing students of French as a foreign language in the U.S. with variation in that language. The article stresses how important it is for French teachers to have an accurate understanding of the French spoken in Quebec. A characterization of Quebec French should include the different Varieties spoken, recognize sociolinguistic differences, and acknowledge the functional effectiveness of all varieties. To acquaint American learners of French with language variation, it is appropriate to expose them to the Varieties that can be found in neighboring communities, such as Quebec. This exposure can begin early so that learners will be able to recognize local particularities and variation. The use of a "pedagogical norm" is advisable, however, in guiding the learners' own usage, because attitudes toward linguistic variants can produce negative reactions to nonnative speaker use of these features.