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| 1. One of the outcomes of the cultural and linguistic diversity in Canada has been talk of separatism. Read this article on efforts by residents of the Canadian province of Quebec to separate themselves from Canada (http://www.soyouwanna.com/site/pros_cons/quebec/quebec.html). a. What are the arguments for separation? b. What are the arguments against separation? c. Can linguistic and cultural diversity be maintained over a long time within nations, or do you think this diversity will always lead either to assimilation or separation? 2. The reading asks you to compare the pattern of linguistic diversity of the U.S. with Canada. Start by looking at this report from the 2000 census (http://www.census.gov/population/cen2000/phc-t20/tab01.pdf) on the number of English-only speakers and the proficiency of speakers in English in each household. Note the number for the U.S. and for one other state of interest. Compare those numbers with the 1990 census (http://www.census.gov/population/socdemo/language/table1.txt). Also compare these lists of other lnaguages spoken in the U.S. in 2000 (http://www.census.gov/population/cen2000/phc-t20/tab05.pdf) and 1990 (http://www.census.gov/population/socdemo/language/table5.txt). a. Do any patterns emerge? b. How do these patterns compare with Canada? c. Are these patterns supported by your own experiences and preconceptions? |