Explore Languages Around the World!

Did you know that people around the world speak thousands of different languages? You can learn about many of these languages and discover how they connect people to their cultures and communities. Exploring world languages also helps you understand Diversity Within Communities and why differences make our world richer.

Language is one of the most important ways people share ideas, feelings, and stories. When you learn about different languages, you begin to see how every community has its own special way of communicating.

A greeting is a friendly word or phrase you use when you meet someone. People around the world greet each other in many different ways. Here are some greetings you might hear:

• Bonjour French for "hello," heard in Québec and across Canada
• Hola Spanish for "hello"
• Nǐ hǎo Mandarin Chinese for "hello"
• Ciao Italian for "hello"
• Tansi a Cree greeting used by First Nations people in Canada

Learning greetings in other languages is a great way to connect with people from different cultures, just like you explore in Sharing Between Cultures.

Canada has two official languages: English and French. This means the government uses both languages on signs, documents, and services. You can see both languages on federal government signs across Canada.

Québec is the province where most people speak French as their main language. The city of Ottawa and nearby Gatineau form one of Canada's most bilingual regions. Canada's national anthem, "O Canada," is sung in both English and French at official events.

A person who speaks two languages is called bilingual. A person who speaks more than two languages is called multilingual. A person who speaks only one language is called monolingual.

Long before European settlers arrived, First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples spoke their own languages. These are called Indigenous languages because they originated in Canada. Some important Indigenous languages include:

• Inuktitut spoken by Inuit people in Canada's North, including Nunavut
• Cree spoken by Cree First Nations peoples across many provinces
• Haida spoken by the Haida Nation on Canada's west coast
• Michif a special language of the Métis people, blending Cree and French

Many Indigenous languages are endangered, which means very few people still speak them. When no one speaks a language anymore, it is called an extinct language. Communities and the Canadian government work hard to protect these languages so their culture and history stay alive.

The Northwest Territories officially recognizes Indigenous languages like Dene and Tłı̨chǫ alongside English and French. The word "kayak" is a loanword that came into English from Inuktitut, showing how languages share and borrow from each other.

Canada is a multicultural country, which means it welcomes people from many different cultures and language backgrounds. Newcomers bring their home languages with them. These are called heritage languages.

Some widely spoken heritage languages in Canada include Arabic, Portuguese, Japanese, and Punjabi. Most Punjabi speakers in Canada originally come from the Punjab region of India. Toronto is one of the most multicultural cities in the world, where over 140 languages are spoken.

The first language a child learns at home is called their mother tongue. Canada's census asks Canadians about their mother tongue to understand the many languages spoken across the country.

A language family is a group of languages that share a common origin. For example, English and French both belong to the Indo-European language family. Many Indigenous languages of Canada belong to completely different language families.

A loanword is a word that one language borrows from another. English has borrowed many words from French, Spanish, and Indigenous languages. The word "kayak" is a loanword from Inuktitut. The French word langue means "language" in English, and it is related to the English word "language" because both come from the Latin word "lingua."

Learning a second language helps you talk with more people and understand new cultures. In Canada, many schools offer French Immersion, a program where most subjects are taught in French so you can become bilingual.

Knowing more than one language does not make you forget your first language it actually makes your brain stronger! You can explore how language connects to culture in Ways People Express Culture.

Greeting: A greeting is a friendly word or phrase you use when you meet someone. For example, "hello" in English and "bonjour" in French are greetings.

Bilingual: When you can speak two languages, you are called bilingual. Many Canadians are bilingual in English and French.

Multilingual: When you can speak more than two languages, you are multilingual. Canada is home to many multilingual people.

Monolingual: When you speak only one language, you are monolingual.

Mother Tongue: Your mother tongue is the first language you learned as a baby at home with your family.

Heritage Language: A heritage language is the language an immigrant family speaks at home, connected to their culture and country of origin.

Indigenous Languages: Indigenous languages are languages spoken by First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples. They originated in Canada long before European settlers arrived.

Inuktitut: Inuktitut is the traditional language of the Inuit people, spoken in Nunavut and other northern regions of Canada.

Cree: Cree is an Indigenous language spoken by Cree First Nations peoples across many parts of Canada.

Michif: Michif is a unique language spoken by many Métis people. It blends Cree and French, reflecting the Métis people's mixed heritage.

Multicultural: A multicultural country welcomes people from many different cultures and languages. Canada is proud to be multicultural.

Loanword: A loanword is a word that one language borrows from another language. The word "kayak" is a loanword from Inuktitut.

Language Family: A language family is a group of languages that share a common origin, like the Indo-European language family that includes English and French.

Extinct Language: An extinct language is one that no longer has any living speakers.

Endangered Language: An endangered language is one that very few people still speak and that is at risk of disappearing.

French Immersion: French Immersion is a school program in Canada where most subjects are taught in French to help you become bilingual.

Langue: "Langue" is the French word for "language." It comes from the same Latin root as the English word "language."

Merci: "Merci" is the French word for "thank you." You would hear it in Québec and other French-speaking communities.

Oui: "Oui" is the French word for "yes." It is pronounced like "wee."

Bonjour: "Bonjour" is the French word for "hello." It is one of Canada's most commonly heard greetings.

Linguistics: Linguistics is the study of how languages work, including how they are structured and how they change over time.

You can practice greetings in different languages with a friend or family member. Try saying "bonjour," "hola," or "nǐ hǎo" and see if people know what language you are speaking!

You can also look for bilingual signs in your community or on food packages. Notice where you see both English and French together. This connects to what you learn about Customs and Celebrations and how language is part of culture.

Try finding loanwords in everyday English. Words like "kayak" and "chocolate" came from other languages. How many can you find?

You have already explored Different Points of View, which helps you understand that people see the world in different ways just like they speak different languages. You also learned about Diversity Within Communities and Ways People Express Culture, which show how language is one important part of culture.

Understanding world languages prepares you to explore even more about the world. You will connect these ideas when you study Understanding Other Places and World Maps and Locations.

Languages are connected to many other topics you will explore. Here is how they all fit together:

• Customs and Celebrations Language is a big part of how communities celebrate their traditions and share their customs with others.
• Understanding Other Places When you learn about other places in the world, knowing about their languages helps you understand their people and cultures better.
• World Maps and Locations You can connect languages to the places on a map where they are spoken, like Arabic in the Middle East or Portuguese in Brazil.
• World Religions and Values Language and religion are both important parts of culture and identity for communities around the world.
• Food Art and Clothing Just like language, food, art, and clothing are ways people express who they are and where they come from.
• Links Between Communities Shared languages and loanwords show how communities around the world are connected to each other.
• World Contributions People from many language backgrounds have contributed important ideas, words, and inventions to the world we share today.
• Sharing Between Cultures When people share languages and greetings, they are also sharing a piece of their culture with others.