Discover the Many Languages of Your Community!

A multilingual community is a place where people speak many different languages. The word "multi" means many, and "lingual" means related to language. You live in a community where many voices and languages can be heard!

Canada is a great example of a multilingual community. People from countries all around the world have come to Canada and brought their home languages with them. You can learn about Languages and Communication to understand how people use language every day.

Canada has two official languages: English and French. These are the languages used by the Canadian government. You can see both languages on signs, money, and official documents across Canada.

Many people in Quebec speak French as their main language. Quebec is a province where French is the official language. Outside Quebec, most people speak English every day. A person who speaks two languages is called bilingual.

You might see the French word "Bonjour" on signs or hear it as a greeting. Bonjour means "hello" in English. It is used in French-speaking parts of Canada like Quebec.

Long before other people came to Canada, First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples lived here and spoke their own languages. These are called Indigenous languages.

Cree is a language spoken by First Nations people across Canada. Inuktitut is the language of the Inuit people, spoken mainly in Nunavut and northern regions. You can even see Inuktitut writing on signs in Nunavut!

Haida is an Indigenous language spoken by the Haida people in British Columbia. BC is home to more than thirty Indigenous languages, making it very diverse. The Michif language belongs to the Métis people and blends French and Cree together.

Cities like Vancouver and Toronto are home to people from many different countries. In Vancouver, many people speak Cantonese and Mandarin because many families came from China. Toronto is one of the most culturally diverse cities in the world!

Many newcomers to Canada first settle in big cities. They bring their home languages with them. That is why you might see signs in many languages when you walk through a Canadian city. This helps everyone read and understand important information.

You can explore Coming to the Community to learn more about how newcomers share their languages and cultures.

Cultural diversity means having many different cultures, languages, and traditions in one place. Canada celebrates its cultural diversity. Canada is sometimes called a cultural mosaic because many cultures fit together like tiles, each keeping its own identity.

You can learn more about how cultures share their special ways in Sharing Between Cultures and Ways People Express Culture.

Language: A language is the set of words people use to communicate and talk to each other. You use language every day when you speak, read, and write.

Community: A community is a group of people who share the same neighbourhood or town. You are part of a community!

Greet / Greeting: To greet someone means to say hello when you meet them. "Bonjour" is a French greeting that means hello.

Translate: To translate means to change words from one language into another so more people can understand. A translator is a person who does this job.

French: French is one of Canada's two official languages. It is widely spoken in Quebec and other parts of Canada.

English: English is one of Canada's two official languages. It is used across most of Canada every day.

Culture: Culture refers to the traditions, foods, and ways of life that a group of people share. Your culture makes you special!

Welcome: Welcome is a word used in many languages to make newcomers feel at home in a community. When you welcome someone, you show them kindness.

Multilingual: Multilingual means speaking or using many languages. A multilingual community is a place where many languages are spoken.

Bilingual: Bilingual means being able to speak two languages. Many Canadians are bilingual in English and French.

Heritage language: A heritage language is the language a family speaks at home from their cultural background. Many Canadian children learn their heritage language alongside English or French.

Mother tongue: Your mother tongue is the first language you learned at home. It is the language your family used when you were very young.

Cultural mosaic: Canada is often called a cultural mosaic because many cultures fit together like tiles, each keeping its own identity.

Community language: A community language is a language that people in a neighbourhood or group share. It helps people communicate and feel connected.

You can try learning a greeting in a new language! Say "Bonjour" for hello in French, or "Tansi" as a Cree greeting. Learning even one word in someone else's language shows respect and kindness.

You can also look at signs in your community and notice if they are written in more than one language. This is a great way to see multilingual diversity in real life! Explore Diversity Within Communities to discover more about the people around you.

You have already learned about Cultural Characteristics: Language, Family Origins, Food and Dress and Immigration Stories. You also explored Family Celebrations and Global Cultural Celebrations including Christmas, Lunar New Year, and First Peoples Traditions. These topics helped you understand how families and cultures are different and special.

Next, you will explore Languages Around the World, Cultural Diversity in Communities, and Maintaining Traditions. You will also learn about First Peoples Traditions and Local Heritage.

This topic connects to many other exciting areas of learning. You can explore Cultural Customs and Traditions to learn how different groups celebrate and live. You will also enjoy Cultural Expression: Art, Music, Traditions, and Holidays to see how culture is shared through creative ways.

Learn about Cultural Foods and Traditional Dress Across Societies and how food and clothing tell stories about where people come from. You can also explore Different Points of View to understand how people from different language backgrounds may see the world in unique ways.

Other connected topics include Cultural Foods and Dress, Family Origins, Cultural Festivals, Customs and Celebrations, Food, Art, and Clothing, Family Customs, and Local Celebrations. Together, all these topics help you understand the rich and beautiful diversity of communities in Canada and around the world.