What Language is Spoken in Canada?
Canada is a country with two official languages: English and French. The majority of Canadians speak English, while French is the mother tongue of about 22% of the population. In addition to these two official languages, there are many other languages spoken in Canada, including Indigenous languages, immigrant languages, and sign languages.
English is the most widely spoken language in Canada. According to Statistics Canada, more than 56% of Canadians have English as their mother tongue. It is also the language used for federal government services and documents. French is the second most common language in Canada, with more than 21% of Canadians having it as their mother tongue.
Indigenous Languages
In addition to English and French, there are many Indigenous languages spoken in Canada. These include Cree, Ojibwe, Inuktitut, and Mi’kmaq. According to Statistics Canada, more than 1 million people reported speaking an Indigenous language at home in 2016. This number has been steadily increasing since 2006.
The Canadian government has taken steps to protect and promote Indigenous languages. In 2019, the government passed legislation that recognizes Indigenous languages as official languages of Canada alongside English and French. This legislation also provides funding for language revitalization programs.
Immigrant Languages
Canada is a multicultural country with many immigrants from around the world. As a result, there are many different immigrant languages spoken in Canada. According to Statistics Canada, Chinese (including Cantonese and Mandarin) is the most commonly spoken immigrant language in Canada, followed by Punjabi and Spanish.
These immigrant languages are important for preserving cultural identity and connecting with family members who may still live abroad. The Canadian government has taken steps to support immigrant communities by providing funding for language classes and other programs that help newcomers learn English or French.
Sign Languages
In addition to spoken languages, there are also several sign languages used in Canada. The most common sign language is American Sign Language (ASL), which is used by deaf communities across North America. There are also several regional sign languages used in parts of Canada such as Quebec Sign Language (LSQ) and Maritime Sign Language (MSL).
Sign language plays an important role in helping deaf individuals communicate with each other and access services such as education and healthcare. The Canadian government has taken steps to recognize sign language as an official language of Canada alongside English and French.
Conclusion
Canada is a diverse country with many different languages spoken within its borders. While English and French are the two official languages of Canada, there are also many Indigenous languages, immigrant languages, and sign languages used by various communities across the country.