Language issue with the Habs coach

by Outcast on Dec 20, 2011 11:37 AM EST

The Quebec Minister of Culture fell short of saying that Cunneyworth should be let go because he doesn't speak French. The media in Montreal is up in arms. I find this very interesting. I respect the concept of maintaining your culture, but I thought Canada has both languages in the book (English and French). Is in up to the media to learn English in a bilingual country. Also in this era were the players themselves come from different countries, the important thing is that the coach can communicate with the players. For this purpose English has been the universal language . The coach should be hired by his ability not by which language he speaks as the only measuring stick. For that matter how would Francophones like to see French Canadian coaches not hired by an English speaking team because of language. This doesn't happen because most French-Canadian coaches know English also because they need it to have a job. The next thing we hear will be that the Florida Panthers require a Spanish speaking coach because the latin media in South Florida wants there press conference in Spanish.It is unfair and discriminatory to call for the firing of any person based on their language. I'm sure that if anyone asks the players, they have no trouble communicating with Cunneyworth.

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Canada is weird...

I thought Canada has both languages in the book

While, technically, on a National scale, we do, it’s more of a regional thing than that. I live in SK, where English is pretty much the main language. Now, there’s a few small Metis communities dotting the province (I grew up near a few of them) where there’s more French on the signs than English, but everyone other than the oldest, most stubborn members of the community are fluent in English. Basically, the further west you go, the less French people speak.

Now Quebec is totally different. I mean, right in the city of Montreal, most people are bilingual—Montreal is a giant cultural center, and you are exposed to both languages. Go east of Montreal, though, and you run into lots of places where French is the only language. It’s just the way things are, and it’s not just about language, it’s about culture and the team’s identity. When the team formed, they represented French Canada (there’s a reason they’re called the “Canadiens” rather than the “Canadians”—the team’s legal name is still “Club de hockey Canadien, Inc.” if you check the copyright on the bottom of their official web page, and it’s no coincidence that the three colours of the team match the three colours on the flag of France), and there’s a lot of backlash regarding how they seem to be moving away from that.

he next thing we hear will be that the Florida Panthers require a Spanish speaking coach because the latin media in South Florida wants there press conference in Spanish.It is unfair and discriminatory to call for the firing of any person based on their language.

It’s not really the same thing. Press conferences were always done in French in Montreal/Quebec until eventually they were forced by the league to hold them in English as well. Now they’re going to lose the ability to hold any conferences in French? There’s a huge base of loyal francophone fans that are being shut out by the team here.

Quebec isn’t saying that the “Les Habitants” shouldn’t be able to hire anyone who speaks English, only that they should be seeking out someone who also speaks French so that they can communicate with the large population of francophone Canadiens. “Le Bleu, Blanc, Rouge” didn’t have an issue with exploiting the regional francophone population for years to get their dollars, why slap them in the face like this? I don’t see an issue with making bilingualism a requirement for the job.

by Hatt the Moople on Dec 20, 2011 1:33 PM EST reply actions

Why don’t the hire an interpreter for the press conference, like they do in soccer. Why isn’t there a bilingual requirement for the media. It is really simple to have an interpreter doing simultaneous translation, that’s why I believe the issue is sadly a misunderstood nationalism. I’m very aware of the legal name of the team. If they want it to be all French they could join the French hockey league a play games away in France, today this is possible. I feel bad for Cunnyworth, he is a very good professional and does not deserve this kind of treatment on top of the pressure already existing there relating to Hockey.

The Hockey Dr.

by Outcast on Dec 20, 2011 2:17 PM EST up reply actions

Oh, definitely, it's bigger than language...

,,,it’s about culture and Quebec’s constant fight to maintain theirs. Like I said last time, the Canadiens have always been a symbol of French Canada. They’ve always had strong roots in the French culture, which permeate every aspect of the club (the colors, the name, the French writings in the locker room), and have garnered a lot of regional support by representing this image. The Habs’ are more than just a hockey team over there, they are a metaphor for the French Canadians (the “Canadiens”). It’s why we see such an uproar whenever the team is slighted (the uproars in Parliament/calls to 911 when Chara hit Pacioretty, and the riots when Richard was suspended for punching out an official, for two examples). For a lot of Canadiens, the slow “Anglo-nization” (totally not a word) of the Habs mirrors the way that Quebec itself is losing its culture, that’s why there was an uproar when an Anglophone was named Captain, when an American was named Captain, and now, when an Anglophone is named head coach. That’s why there’s such an issue.

If they want it to be all French they could join the French hockey league a play games away in France, today this is possible.

You have to understand, Canada is completely different from the US when it comes to culture. The whole, “If you don’t like , then GIIIIIT OUT!” mentality that you mention above is more the American way. Up here, we go the other way, we throw piles of money at minority groups to help them maintain their culture, and give them all kinds of breaks in society. Is it the right way to do it? Probably not, but it’s a little softer than the “change or leave” mentality.

Of course, that’s not to say Cunnyworth can’t learn the language and earn the respect of the people. When Sid Crosby went to Rimouski, he couldn’t speak a lick of French. Shawna Richer’s book “The Kid” has an awesome story in it about Sidney Crosby learning to speak French to be more united with the people of Rimouski. A journalist was interviewing Sid in the locker room after a game and asked him a question in English, and Crosby answered in French. Things got quiet, and the journalist asked the next question in French, and Sid answered it in French, and they kept going. It was the point where they stopped liking him for his talent, and started loving him for him. Awesome story.

by Hatt the Moople on Dec 20, 2011 3:11 PM EST up reply actions

Yes, what Sid did was excellent. I’m not talking about the “American” get out mentality when I say they should play in an all French league if they feel that way. I’m talking business, the NHL is an English speaking league, that does it business that way. They have given the Canadiens freedom to do what they feel they have to do in French without any problems (broadcast, press conferences so on) as it should be. But hiring a coach that speaks English in a league that is mainly English speaking should not be a cause for bad treatment, nor a provincial matter. It is business. Are the Canadiens going to restrict themselves only to French players like they did at one time, no, and well they shouldn’t. The sport of hockey and the world of professional sports has changed, there is talent from different nationalities and cultures. There has to be tolerance for that. Having an English speaking coach is not going to change how the French culture is maintained in Quebec, coaches come and go and just because a coach speaks English is not going to change how everyone lives. Again if you follow the example of European soccer there are coaches of different languages coaching all over Europe and international tournaments, when they give a press conference is translated simultaneously to the relevant languages, and it is not a big expense. I always had respect for the Montreal franchise and admiration for there history, but their tradition is based also on success, and sometimes these requires changes. This just maybe one of those times.

The Hockey Dr.

by Outcast on Dec 20, 2011 4:45 PM EST up reply actions

I disagree with both of you. I don’t think it is some sort of nationalism or a cultural issue. It is simply the Media feeling entitled. It happens every day. They think the world revolves around their ability to report on it.

Put on your dancin' shoes.

by PensFan024 on Dec 20, 2011 4:47 PM EST up reply actions

It wasn't the media who made the comment...

…it was a politician from Quebec. It’s a cultural issue.

by Hatt the Moople on Dec 20, 2011 7:31 PM EST up reply actions

I read about this and was surprised that anyone, let alone a minister, could be this narrow minded. What a joke. You pick the best guy available for the job, regardless of language or ethnicity. As long as he can communicate with the players at a reasonable level, it’s not a problem. And since most of the players on the team aren’t French Canadian, I fail to see how the coach not speaking french could in any way be an issue. Either way, I’m sure those french Canadian players speak enough english to get by. And besides, it doesn’t matter if you’re Russian, French Canadian or Scandinavian, when the player knows the sport of hockey he will understand what you want him to do even if you don’t share a common language.

by Skyff on Dec 20, 2011 2:38 PM EST reply actions

You are right. This is the point of my post. I’m sure the players have no objection. Just like they would not have had any objection if Kirk Muller, another English speaking coach would have become their coach just to name somebody who would have been a likely candidate.

The Hockey Dr.

by Outcast on Dec 20, 2011 4:48 PM EST up reply actions

Not surprising...

This type of thing happens all the time- it it’s not the Habs, it’s some other ‘Quebecois Institution’ that is found to be at fault because there is the perception that there are too many unilingual ‘anglos’ in positions of any significance. I remember how Saku Koivu’s lack of French was always being snidely pointed out…

by Warp_Blaze on Dec 20, 2011 5:49 PM EST up reply actions

Stupid thing to say

That bullshit is going to cost Quebec City its already longshot chance at another franchise.

by vodkasoda on Dec 20, 2011 8:39 PM EST reply actions

Yes, I think you may be right, but from the Habs perspective is not bad to be THE ONLY franchise in Quebec.

The Hockey Dr.

by Outcast on Dec 20, 2011 8:44 PM EST up reply actions

The monopoly argument. Hmmm.
From what I saw living in Quebec in the early ‘90s, it was a little counterintuitive. The Quebec and Montreal teams didn’t care much for each other, but the fans saw the rivalry a bit differently. They had 2 chances at a cup run instead of one.

Can you imagine Flyers fans picking the penguins as their 2nd favorite team? Haha. With the recent realignment issue, it was interesting to see us cling to each other. “They are fuck!ng assholes but they are our fuck!ng assholes!”

by vodkasoda on Dec 20, 2011 9:26 PM EST up reply actions

If it dosen't work out in Phx, that may not matter in the end.

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by Bradley James McEachern on Dec 23, 2011 11:59 PM EST up reply actions