% monolingual French speakers in the MTL region

[GM10]

Originally Posted by ARrocket

There's no official cutoff for bilingualism, so I don't think that's a good argument. The fact remains that you can walk into almost any business in any corner of Montreal and get reasonably good service in English.

Seems like most here think the city is bilingual as well, regardless of language:

Majority of Montreal residents see city as bilingual: poll - Montreal - CBC News

Ironically, the one place I've consistently run into people who don't speak English is the Walmart in LaSalle

Yes but you can do the same in any other major western and northern European city and people will also know English, but it doesn't make it a bilingual city. It just means English is an international language and it is expected for people to know it for tourism purposes. The fact that all the signs are in French, all businesses operate in French, Government institutions operate in French, and the majority of people's first language is French, is a good indication that it is a predominately French city.

Ottawa may not be more bilingual as Montreal, but it sure seems that way because the signs are usually in both languages and the two provinces are right beside each other so the two languages seem to be spoken more equally. I think of a bilingual city as one that you hear and see both languages all the time, there's not many in the world perhaps in Switzerland? Anyways I don't get that vibe in Montreal. I mostly heard and saw French in Montreal with the exception of tourists in popular areas. People always say Bonjour in Montreal not Hello/Bonjour. The fact that Bonjour is said first makes it a French city first. I need to hear both languages pretty equally around me to consider the place a bilingual city.

[ARrocket]

Originally Posted by GM10

Yes but you can do the same in any other major western and northern European city and people will also know English, but it doesn't make it a bilingual city. It just means English is an international language and it is expected for people to know it for tourism purposes.

So the cashier at Canadian Tire in Cote-des-Neige knows English for tourism purposes? Please. Yes, most people have French as the first language. Yes, there are (much) more monolingual French speakers than monolingual English speakers. But people all over the city speak English, and there are multiple neighborhoods where you hear MUCH more English than French.

Originally Posted by GM10

The fact that all the signs are in French, all businesses operate in French, Government institutions operate in French, and the majority of people's first language is French, is a good indication that it is a predominately French city.

The bolded part is not true. Most operate in French, but not all. And I'm not disagreeing that it's predominately French. It is. I'm saying there are degrees of bilingualism, and while Montreal is not 50/50, the mix is enough that an English speaker can live here fairly seamlessly. After all, I do.

Originally Posted by GM10

Anyways I don't get that vibe in Montreal. I mostly heard and saw French in Montreal with the exception of tourists in popular areas. People always say Bonjour in Montreal not Hello/Bonjour. The fact that Bonjour is said first makes it a French city first. I need to hear both languages pretty equally around me to consider the place a bilingual city.

So you don't even live here? Come on...spend some time in all parts of the city before you jump to conclusions.

And FYI, "bonjour/hi" is EXTREMELY common to hear.

[begratto]

Originally Posted by ARrocket

And FYI, "bonjour/hi" is EXTREMELY common to hear.

mostly when the salesperson is an anglophone and/or the customer looks like an anglophone (yes, you can often tell a francophone from an anglophone just from their looks).

Francophones rarely get the "bonjour/hello" when entering a store.

[jambo101]

Originally Posted by begratto

mostly when the salesperson is an anglophone and/or the customer looks like an anglophone (yes, you can often tell a francophone from an anglophone just from their looks).

Now thats an observation that perks ones curiosity for more elaboration..