One my friends is of french decendance but she can't speak french because her family immigrated to Canada before she was born. Does that make her French, even though she has lost her culture ans her language?
2007-10-06 07:19:26 · 14 answers · asked by lifeisgood 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Languages
To answer your question: Can someone be French if they can't speak French?"...yes, it is possible.
If a person's parents are French, then that person can be born anywhere in the world, that person will have the French nationality.
Let's say, both of your parents are French, so you are French and then you are born in USA, then you're American (because anybody born in the USA are American), so you have dual nationality. Let's say your parents, even if they are French, talk to you in English so you do not learn French and then you grow up, being both American and French but more American since you grew up there and only talk English.
You're still French, with a French passport. I think the same thing would go for Canada.
So you can lose a culture and a language but still have the nationality. The French government says any children born from French people are also French, wherever they are born in the world, they do not have to speak the language.
So...does your friend has a French passport or can get one? if so, she could prove her nationality, if needed. As far as culture and language, that is another matter but even if her family immigrated to Canada before she was born, I'm sure she was exposed to some French culture, even if she did not seem to adopt it. (maybe she does not speak French, but she can understand it a little or she like croissants in the morning...).
2007-10-09 17:09:08 · answer #1 · answered by Sallie W 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, I really don't know about France but many countries will now allow dual citizenship so that children born abroad may acquire the citizenship of the country of their parents.
The only thing I question in your statement is "even though she has lost her culture..." . Sorry but I disagree with this comment.
A person can lose their culture only if the want or choose to lose it.
Canada has done much to promote and is a world leader in conserving multiculturalism. I know because I have lived in Canada since I was a small child. I have retained the cultures and, furtunately, the languages of my parents' birth countries. My husband and I have passed on our culture and heritage and languages to our children. I am glad to say they are proud of their origins while still being strong Canadians.
2007-10-06 07:46:53 · answer #2 · answered by Sabrina(Susananita) 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
At one level she is French, as her parents are French. As the Duke of Wellington used to say when people said he was Irish because he was born in Ireland, 'And is Jesus a horse because he was born in a stable?' On the other hand as the French put a lot of importance on their language and many of them would find it hard to accept she is French. My daughter was born in England but always supports Scotland in Rugby and football, because one parent is Scottish so if your friend feels French or wants to be French she has every right to do so. Certainly if she was of British parentage she would be entitled to a British passport as well as a French one.
2007-10-06 07:33:49 · answer #3 · answered by happyjumpyfrog 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Unless she has dual citizenship, that's just how you talk in a country of immigrants. It's like I'll say that I'm Irish even though I was born in the US and can't speak a word of Irish Gaelic. But many many years ago, I had ancestors who immigrated.
2007-10-07 04:55:07 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think she would be a Canadian Citizan, but she would still be French. Alot of people move to a different country before they are born, so they don't know their language unless they usually use it at home. I'm quite sure she'd still be French though
2007-10-06 07:29:16 · answer #5 · answered by amooreddy 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Your friend automatically adopts the nationality of the country that she was born in. She is a Canadian girl with French origins.... I am born in Canada, but my origins are a mix of Irish, Scottish, Native(Mohawk), Italian and French Canadian. Our origins stretch back to our family members(ancesters) who were born in their individual respective countries.
2007-10-06 07:38:28 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
according to threat you may take an particularly care of your accessory. in the event that they hear which you have an english/american accessory, they'd think of you're on holiday journeys. Or ask them to respond to in french. Est ce que vous pourriez me répondre en français s'il vous plait?
2016-10-06 05:08:49 · answer #7 · answered by hughart 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It gives her French heritage. Just like I say I'm Irish and Scottish as my ancestors came form there, but I can't speak either language. I also have German and French but speak very, very little of those languages.
2007-10-06 07:27:01 · answer #8 · answered by Pirate AM™ 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
I have a friend who's dad is Turkish and mom is American, and he can only speak English. He only knows a few words in Turkish. He was born in Florida and has lived there all his life. And guess what? He says he's Turkish and I agree with him.
2007-10-06 07:53:50 · answer #9 · answered by WiiVolve 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
of course shes french .. its in her blood.. it doesn't matter what language you speak.. she could have grown up in Japan and be fluently in ONLY japanese.. but shes still french
2007-10-06 08:43:07 · answer #10 · answered by nola_cajun 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋