How is French different from Canadian French to Parisian French?

For centuries, French has been known for its different variations and diversity compared to other languages. French is spoken worldwide, but multiple versions come with it. One of the most notable is the difference between Canadian and Parisian French. Even though they share a common foundation, they both have evolved differently and have some differences. The most prominent are the vocabulary, the pronunciation, and the grammar. Due to this, the education system in each country is different because of many differences. In this blog, we will explore and also analyze how significant these distinctions are between Canadian and Parisian French. 

For some historical context, Canadian French, which can also be known as Quebec French, has roots from the 17th century due to French settlements in North America. Due to Canada’s location, its French has been influenced by English and also by the indigenous people. On the other hand, Parisian French, also known as Metropolitan French, serves as the example or standard form of the language and has evolved with France’s capital, Paris. 

The pronunciation of these two languages is significant. Canadian French contains different vowel sounds, including the “é” sound being pronounced as “è” and the “oi” sound being closer to “oua”. They tend to pronounce the final consonants more frequently compared to Parisian French. Metropolitan French has a simpler pronunciation with the vowels such as the “in” sound. They also tend to drop final consonants, which leads to liaisons.

The vocabulary in Canadian and Parisian French does differ significantly due to the historical, cultural, and linguistic contexts and influences. Canadian French has incorporated English and indigenous languages into it, which results in unique terms and expressions compared to Parisian French. For example, Metropolitan French says “voiture” for car while Canadian French says “char” or “auto”. Parisian French, being known as the standard form of the language, tends to keep a more traditional vocabulary which is closer to the classical version. Additionally, due to the different vocabulary, there are variations in food terms and also regional expressions.

The grammar and syntax are prominent in the different variations. Canadian French speakers are more inclined to use grammatical structure from Old French, for example, in their greater use of the pronoun “on” instead of “nous,” compared to Parisian French, which follows the more standard French grammar rules. There are also differences in tenses and verb conjugation between them.

The differences between these two are very prevalent in pronunciation, vocabulary, and grammar. Canadian French has preserved different features while creating new ones influenced by other English and indigenous languages, while Parisian French remains more aligned with the standard one that everyone knows. This highlights the rich diversity within the French language, whether in Quebec or Paris.