YOUR COMMENTS

One commenter said she wished more French courses were offered in the area. I teach French at NHTI, the community college in Concord. Both traditional classes and online classes in French are offered (for degree-seeking students and anyone else wanting to learn French). Many of my students have French-Canadian family members who speak French, and they want to reconnect with those family roots. It's an admirable goal.

I, myself, grew up near Woonsocket, Rhode Island, where people would talk about going down to the "coin" (corner). It's a similar mill town with French-Canadian roots.

Several of our lessons talk about Quebec, and students like hearing about the different expressions: bonjour for goodbye (as opposed to hello), ma blonde (for my girlfriend), etc.

Au revoir (or should I say Bonjour?).
- Paula, Contoocook

As a French Canadian from the Province of Quebec with a marked interest for Franco-American history, I have followed your series of articles with great interest.

I suspect that it is not a coincidence that the series was published in the days preceding Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day, the traditional patriotic day commemorated by French Canadians on June 24. Therefore, I would like to take this opportunity to wish a Happy Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day to all Franco-Americans and Francophiles in New Hampshire, the rest of New England and New York State.

Whenever I have a chance, I try to inform other Canadians about the role that our Franco-American "cousins" have played in the industrial history of the US and their dedication to both their local community and country, in both peacetime and war.

Kudos to those of you who are trying to maintain and – when possible – re-energize your heritage.

And in conclusion, best wishes to all our friends (regardless of origin) in the USA!!! We are privileged to have you as neighbors.
- Jacques, Gatineau, Quebec, Canada

There's nothing like a piece of phony nostalgia to bring out the language experts among us. Let me join the fray. First, there is no difference between Continental French and North American French, except localisms. A person educated in French anywhere in the world can communicate effectively with another educated French speaker. Comments by those who claim that the French spoken by New England's Franco-Americans is inferior border on ignorance or bigotry - a fine line at times.
Also, lamenting the loss of French in New Hampshire is myopic and needs to be inserted in a global perspective. English has become the dominant language all over the world. Language advocates everywhere are lamenting the loss of local identities and cultures as a result. Your article would have provided a greater service if it had focused less on the language of yesterday and more on the culture of today. But that's a trend in news reporting, one that places anything that is non mainstream in the categories of quaint and nostalgic. What about a discussion about how Franco-American culture has made New Hampshire what it is today and how it can shape the future of your state? Here's a first step: hire some Franco-American writers and reporters. And, my last name has an accent on the letter e, but your website doesn't seem to support French accents. Step two!
- Paul Pare, Ogunquit, Maine

Is interesting to read all comments and learn that not long ago there were bilingual classes in the schools in NH. What surprises me is that when any bilingual service in Spanish is mentioned or required everyone complains. We are all immigrants no matter if you came from Europe and I came from Latin America. And it is the same as it was that older people had a hard time to learn a new language, in this case English, compared to the younger ones that become bilingual very easy. In our family's case we talk Spanish at home and English outside so the younger will learn our native language. It is up to every ethnic or cultural group to keep their roots alive thru generations.
- Vanessa Marin, Nashua

Emma Watson,

I apologize if my previous post was construed as french coming from illegal immigrants. My point for which I make no apologies is:

When you come to America you integrate into American culture. Our entire country right now is burdened with illegal aliens, mostly spanish speaking. They adversely affect American's ability to receive a decent education, obtain healthcare at affordable rates among others.

I have nothing against people forgeign languages, rather would encourage we encourage our your to be multi-lingual. My father's grandparents immigrigated from lebanon and spoke fluent french. My mom's 12th great father founded Lancaster Pennsylvania and spoke German. I speak english and by choice German.

Imagine if all of the original colonists refused to speak a common language. We wouldn't have the UNITED states of America. English is a language that ties all 50 states, 57 if you are the president, and territories together. Their is no hatred in my heart Emma to any citizen of the United States. Everyone of us got here as a result of immigration. I hope this clarifies my position for you.

Regards,
- Michael Layon, Derry

It's nice to see people recognize the value of our Franco-American Heritage, and the need to preserve it. The Franco-American center in Manchester is a great place to experience this culture. I appreciated the coments from Janet of Plantation, FL as she remembered listening to the French Radio program. No one was more passionate about preserving the Franco-American culture in Manchester then the person resposible for this radio program. My father, "Joe" Maltais was heard over the ariwaves in New Hampshire for 45 years. His jovial voice connected with the vast French speaking population with funny stories, lost and found dogs and cats, spinning french records and every politician can remember booking time on his show to speak (in Frence) directly to the Franco-American Voters. The record collection that was the backbone of the Franco-American Radio show was donated to the Franco-American Center and is accessible to the public to help us keep our culture alive. Thanks for the article.
- Denis Maltais, Manchester

I thank my parents for speaking French while in the house and English when we were out of it. As such, I am a 30-something 4th generation speaker of this language. Unfortunately, of all my siblings, I am the only one who continues to speak but it has served me well when we travel to Quebec and they NEED me.
To respond to Bob in Beford, I think the difference today is that back then, my parents were forced to speak English if they traveled. Nobody accomodated them, products were not labeled in two languages, and if they wanted something, THEY had to figure out hw to ask for and pay for it. How sad that the lessons we learned are no longer the norm.....
- Julie, manchester

"Time was, you could stroll down the street in communities all around New Hampshire -- in Manchester and Nashua, in Rochester and Suncook, in Salmon Falls and Berlin -- and hear folks, most of Canadian descent, chatting in French."

"People who are of French-Canadian ancestry have become so Americanized that their self-identification as Americans is no different from old Yankees'."

I would say that they have also become very intolerant of others' cultures and language. The same conditions that pushed French-Canadians off the farms of Quebec into the mills of New England are driving Latin American immigrants into our state now. It is no different...except that the Quebecois didn't have brown skin. It's ironic that some of the most racist people I know in New Hampshire are the old French-Canadiens or their children and grand-children. The same people bemoaning the loss of French in our area also rail against an increase in Spanish. It wasn't long ago when they were the outsiders. Vous rappelez-vous?
- Bob, Bedford

Michael Layon in Derry: For you to suggest that foreign languages such as French and Spanish are can only to attributed to illegal aliens is offensive. Many Americans, myself included, have grown up in households where different languages were spoken by American Citizens and legal immigrants. It is people such as yourself that fuel the fires of hate.
- Emma Watson, Manchester

There are still young, first generation Americans speaking French in Manchester, but we are few and far between.

I wish that the Franco- American Center would offer free beginner classes to community members to promote French language in our city.
- NJ, Manchester

Ed,

Your daughter learned some vocab in French class, it doesn't make her fluent. There are differences in dialect in every language in case you are not aware. A fluent person can understand EVERYONE.
- C, Manchester

I find it fascinating that the people who criticize Canadian French as not being real French all have English surnames. Do they know something that those of us who speak the language don't know? I am not totally fluent anymore, but I have no problem being understood in Quebec or in Paris.
- LJC, Manchester

French signs in NH? Why not start putting up signs in spanish then too?

Illegal aliens are quickly becoming part of our culture, we should honor them as our president does and welcome them to our state with open arms and pocket books
- Michael Layon, Derry

I did not know that we re that many French linguists contributing to this discussion. I was taught Francais here in Manchester by mostly French-Canadian nuns, in high school I was taught "Parisian" French by a religious brother who was Irish and did it with a very English accent during my military service I visited France and all through my life I have not had any problems reading, writing and being understood by my Quebec cousins, my Acadian relatives, some French individuals that I have met and I visit Quebec and Acadie every year several times however the "Parisian" French spoken in Paris is filled with more anglicizations than what is spoken in North America. My non linguistic knowledge has taught me that the so-called real Francais is determined by L'Academie Francaise and you can find the language and words in the Diderot dictionary however even the French will tell you that the French spoken outside of Paris is more authentic. French is French what is different in most cases is the local patois which is influenced by the locality that it is spoken, wherever I go I am understood and I do the same however I am happy that I learned from the linguists in here that I speak the wrong French because I was taught by French-Canadian teachers and I am stunned into disbelief.
- Richard L. Fortin, Manchester

LJC, Manchester, weena, chester has a point. My daughter has taken 8 years of "French" French. When we go to Quebec she can understand almost nothing. When she went to Paris, she understood almost everything.

At work a few of our company reports are published on Canadian French and Parisian Frenach as we have plants in Canada and France. I have printed some of them out, and when you compare them some sentences have the same words shuffled around and some sentences have completely different words.

When we home schooled our kids up to the 7th grade, I searched for Canadian French books, tapes, anything. Even the Canadian Army teaches only Parisian French, including to Quebec "Franch" speaking soldiers.

As far as "English" being the same everywhere... there is the saying the Americans and the British are people separated by a common language. Be sure to check under you bonnet for the oil level, in the petrol tank for petrol, and in the boot under the hood for your wellies.
- Ed Sanders, Lancaster

As someone whose parents came to the U.S. from Quebec in the early 1960's, I was fascinated by this article and to learn how prevalent the French language was in New Hampshire.

In terms of the Catholic faith, some French-speaking missionaries are still coming to the U.S In 2003, the French missionaries and lay volunteers of Heart's Home USA (heartshomeusa.org) came to the Bronx from France and opened a mission to help Spanish-speaking people. How ironic that French-speaking missionaries came to the poorest urban area in the largest English-speaking country to serve poor Spanish-speaking people of various nationalities. A year ago they moved the mission to Brooklyn.

The last two weeks have been inspiring for me in terms of my French-language heritage in that I learned of the Heart's Home missionaries and read your article. I can't wait to read the other two articles in this series. I'll be hanging on the edge of my seat. If my Dad had e-mail in heaven, I would surely e-mail him this article!
- John Bureau, Enfield, CT

I am sorry to say that the days of bi-lingual signage in French at least are long gone, I served for 10 years on the American-Canadian-French Cultutal Exchange Commission by appointment of a Governor at the time and all we did is spin our wheels and re-invent it at every meeting. The Commission still exists today a prime candidate for sunsetting. At one time I was part of an effort to have the Legislature proclaim a Franco-American week and the Speaker of the House at the time John Tucker (Turcotte) of Claremont and Majority Leader Leigh Bosse of Hillsborough both Franco-Americans made a joke of it when they submitted it to the body for a vote. The days of bi-lingual signs with French the other language are dead or en Francais mort.
- Richard L. Fortin, Manchester

weena in Chester: Canadian French is every bit as French as American English is English or Mexican Spanish is Spanish. To suggest otherwise is just ignorant.
- LJC, Manchester

In Nashua we celebrate Franco-American week at Le Parc de Notre Renaissance Francaise where our beautiful sculpture, "La Dame ..." graces the riverside. I led the project in 2001 and everybody loves to visit there. We also have a French conversation group of over two dozen people who meet twice a month to share our love of the French language. Quel plaisir!
- Georgi Hippauf, Nashua, NH

Great article, Nancy
I lived in Manchester & Suncook as a child when my father worked at a sweater mill in Manchester. My parents are of French ancestry although only my father spoke French. I remember hearing so much French as a child with most of our neighbors & friends. We moved back to MA and as my grandparents and eventually my father passed on there is very little of the language that has been passed down to my children. I remember learning all my prayers in French although I don't remember any now.
- Carol, North Attleboro, MA

Sorry but what we used to hear isn't real French anyway. It was French Canadian. Real French is spoken in France and doesn't really resemble French Canadian a whole lot.
- weena, chester

Not trying to start a debate on language politics here, but maybe an interesting way to try and preserve this little bit of history would be to pass a resolution in the legislature recognizing French as a historical or cultural language in New Hampshire... allowing it to be used in certain cases such as on bilingual road signs or promoting it as the first-choice for a second language in schools. For example, I think it would be kind of neat to see bilingual arrêt/stop sign in some parts of Berlin or Manchester, just as a reminder of the Franco-American culture that still manages to survive in these places.

"Vivre libre ou mourir!"
- Tom, Keene

Great article...I printed it to save and read again and again.
As a young girl growing up on Dubuque St. and later South Main St., I listened to Manchester's French radio station many nights before drifting off to sleep. I loved the language, so lilting and romantic, even though I didn't understand much of it.
The kids on the West Side taught us some naughty French words...and they learned a little English from us. Language is not a barrier between kids.

I now listen to "The French Album" CD by Celine Dion. It brings me back to my childhood. Check it out!
- Janet (Foster) Barter, PLANTATION FL

This is such an important piece of our local culture and history. Having grown up in Manchester, attending St. Augustine and ST. Anthony the french language was a true identity of this city and area.

How timely is this piece, that I am beginning work on my doctoral dissertation on the french culture and leadership styles within for this entire Merrimack Valley area. However, it will be a documentary with plenty of oral Histories. Stay tuned, you or someone you know could help and be part of an historical documentary.

Merci,
- Ronald Biron, Manchester, NH

If one wants to really feel the Franco-American spirit one should spend some Wednesday, Friday or Saturday tracing their French-Canadian-Acadian roots at the state of the art library of the American-Canadian Genealogical Society in Manchester, there you will find cheery willing volunteers who can guide you en Francais or in English in tracing your ancestry through Canada to France. There are computers microfilm readers and lots and lots of books that you can use hands on without requiring white gloves, the library resources there are designed for use not admiration. The society was the first of it's kind in the US and the largest which is why you need not go to Canada to find who your ancestors. Spend an afternoon or evening chasing ancestors and you will experience a renaissance of your Franco-American pride and heritage, the society owns and is housed in the old Blessed Sacrament School corner of Baker and Elm Sts and is handicapped accessible so if you want to really rekindle your French pride do your genealogy there is nothing better.
- Richard L. Fortin, Manchester

Those of us that are on Franco-American ancestry can help keep our culture alive by supporting the Franco-American Center in Manchester. A small contribution or becoming a volunteer can help this worthy organization
- Dan Fortin, Bedford

Loved this article - great job Nancy!

I am not French, but I grew up with French people all around me and did pick up some of the language. In 1944 I was in a French convent in Maine in the first grade. We learned in English half a day, and in French half a day. But in the second grade, I was in a public school and forgot most of my French.

Sad that the French language is not being spoken as much today, but I guess that is progress.

Pat Kraft
- Pat Kraft, Concord