Perceptions of cultural differences and language use: A field study in a bilingual environment.

Abstract

A field study was designed to examine the role of perceived cultural differences and patterns of language use regarding intergroup relations in Quebec. The participants were 90 francophone and anglophone executives who were involved in a special three-day program requiring intensive interaction and cooperation to complete their task requirements. A questionnaire, administered at the end of the program, focused on participants' beliefs about Francophone and Anglophone differences in approach to and execution of the job, as well as patterns of language use throughout the three-day period.Most francophones believed that cultural differences do exist and they respected the unique attributes of both groups. Most anglophones did not believe in the current existence of cultural differences, the specific characteristics of the two groups having been blended over time. The English language was used more than would be predicted on the basis of the number of francophones and anglophones; however, there was greater language parity than has historically been reported.

Impact of Social Change on Job Values: A Longitudinal Study of Quebec Business Students

“…The French, on the other hand, placed a significantly higher importance on the values Exciting Life, Equality and Inner Harmony. Thus, the results with a student-based sample reconfirm the reported perceptions held by Francophone managers that Francophones are different from the Anglophones (Taylor, Simard and Papineau, 1978), and that they approach work situations differently from Anglophones (Taylor, Siniard, McKinnan, Bellerose, 1982 Importance Placed on the Job Factors Table 5 presents mean data comparing English and French Canadian students' motivations with regard to six j o b factors for the years 1972, 1978 and 1986. These results are similar t o those reported by Adler and Graham (1987) that whereas French students give higher importance to those instrumental values necessary for managerial success such as C a p a b l e , lmaginative a n d Selfcontrolled, with some of the larger sized but statistically non-significant inter-group differences found for values Ambitious and Logical also going in the same direction, English students gave a higher importance t o the familyoriented values such as Loving, Responsible and Obedient which are necessary for social success.…”

“…McCarrey, Edwards and Jones (1978) noted that whereas French and English managers were somewhat similar on intrinsic job values, the Francophones did put a higher importance on extrinsic job values. That this movement of French towards English may have also taken place in the non-student population is reflected in findings reported by Taylor, Simard and Papineau (1978) and Gosselin and McCarrey (1980). That this movement of French towards English may have also taken place in the non-student population is reflected in findings reported by Taylor, Simard and Papineau (1978) and Gosselin and McCarrey (1980).…”

“…Perhaps the decline in religiosity (Ribby, 1979), improved self-image (Taylor, Simard and Papineau, 1978) and improved levels of communication (Gosselin and McCarrey (1980), are reflected in the French Canadianjob motivation changes between the years 1972 and 1978. On the other hand there was a large drop in the importance attached t o job security between the years 1978 and 1986.…”

“…Ahmed, Cochrane and Ouimet (1974) and Ahmed (1977, 19781, on the other hand, had found that due to the influence of the Quiet Revolution in Quebec, job needs of French Canadian business students were beginning to approach those of English Canadians. Taylor, Simard and Papineau (1978) had found that Quebec Anglophones saw themselves as similar to the Quebec French in how they approached theirjobs. Taylor, Simard and Papineau (1978) had found that Quebec Anglophones saw themselves as similar to the Quebec French in how they approached theirjobs.…”

Bilingualism and the language of work: the Linguistic Work Environment Survey

“…Language convergence between francophone and anglophone bilinguals was demonstrated in a number of empirical studies conducted in Quebec (Bourhis 1984b;Bourhis and Lepicq 1993). Up untU the late 1970s Quebec studies conducted in the work setting showed that more francophone business executives accommodated by speaking English with their anglophone counterparts than did the latter, who tended to maintain English during mixed-group meetings with francophone executives (Taylor et al 1978;Quebec 1972). Studies have also shown that Speakers who converge to their interlocutor may be more favorably perceived on Status and solidarity traits, especially in cases where convergence is to a higher-status language (Genesee and Bourhis 1988).…”