DCHP-3

francophone

DCHP-2 (Oct 2016)

Spelling variants:
Francophone

1n. — French relations

a French-speaking person.

Type: 5. Frequency — The term francophone describes a French-speaking person, or someone whose mother tongue is French (see the 1972 quotation). In Canada, the term is often used in contrast with those whose mother tongue is English (see anglophone). Thus, the word francophone is often used to describe a French Canadian (see the 1976 quotation). The term is said to derive from French, combining the terms "franco" and "phone", associated with 'French' and 'sound', respectively (see OED-3, s.v. "francophone").
The earliest Canadian attestation of the term discusses francophones in a Moroccan context, written by a reporter for a London newspaper. Moreover, OED-3's earliest attestation dates back to a 1900 source from the US (see OED-3, s.v. "francophone" (1)). This international presence highlights the term's evident semantic narrowing, from French speakers in general to French speakers in Canada. Resonance of the term in a Canadian context (see the 1968 quotation) coincides with Canada's federal movement in the mid to late 1960s towards English-French bilingualism (see Canadian Encyclopedia reference). As seen in Chart 1, the term is most frequently used in Canada. See also COD-2, s.v. "francophone" (noun), which is marked "Cdn" and Gage-3, s.v. "francophone" (1), which is marked "Cdn."

Quotations

1960
[To begin with, Arabic textbooks were totally inadequate because they lacked the necessary scope or there were not enough of them. Secondly, the only competent teachers available were either Moroccan Francophones trained in French schools or French nationals, (there are still 7,300 French teachers in Morocco).]
1967
The mood of French-speaking Canadians is increasingly toward self-assertion as a Quebec majority and away from accommodation as a Canadian minority. The reverse is true of French Canadians in Ontario or Manitoba and even in New Brunswick, who remain increasingly out of touch and possibly out of sympathy with the aggressive assertiveness of those Quebec Francophones whose political dynamics are now energized by a majority and exclusivist psychology.
1970
The new bill would respect rights of Anglophones ('Quebeckers who have already opted for the other official language of Canada') but would be an active and dynamic response to legitimate aspirations of Francophones and their collective needs.
1972
But unfortunately, no one seems quite sure what a 'francophone' is. According to the Treasury Board, a 'francophone' is a person whose mother tongue is French, presumably a French Canadian in most cases;
1976
You may wonder what 'anglophones' and 'francophones' are. These terms refer respectively to those whose mother tongue is English, and those whose mother tongue is French. Mother tongue is the language first learned in childhood and still understood. You may be neither and belong to one of the many ethnic groups that enrich our Canadian society. In this case, for statistical purposes only, you will be included with either group depending on the language in which you are more proficient in communicating with others, i.e., your primary language.
1980
For Mr. Trudeau, Quebec and French Canada are but a collection of individual francophones, lacking a high degree of cohesiveness. His linguistic and cultural policies followed from this pan-Canadian perspective.
1990
However, Judge Dube rejected arguments that the policy was a violation of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms because it demonstrated systematic discrimination toward francophones.
2010
Francophones were upset with insufficient French language and culture during ceremonies. VANOC chief executive officer John Furlong made a passionate speech almost entirely in English.
2015
Desharnais is the only player on the Canadiens who carries the added pressure of being a francophone who grew up in Quebec, coming from tiny Laurier Station with a population of just over 2,600. But Desharnais insists he doesn't feel that pressure.
2adj. — French relations

French-speaking.

Type: 5. Frequency — See meaning 1. The same process of semantic narrowing from French-speaking to French-speaking Canada as for meaning 1 can be seen.
See also COD-2, s.v. "francophone" (adjective), which is marked "Cdn" and Gage-3, s.v. "francophone" (2), which is marked "Cdn."

Quotations

1968
[Montreal and Laval have similarly attracted many students from the French-speaking countries, and Montreal has pioneered in the world-wide organization of Francophone universities to promote such exchanges.]
1975
Liberal Albert Roy has the Francophone vote sewed up in the eastern part of Ottawa where French Canadians are the majority.
1987
This is Acadian country, where people have managed to keep their rural francophone identity despite the closeness of the city ways of Summerside.
1996
A francophone university makes its home here, serving people bearing names such as D'Entremont, Comeau and Surette, and each town's church is so remarkably out of proportion to the local population that it appears to be as much a cultural fortress as a place of worship.
2008
With one of the largest francophone communities outside of Quebec and Ontario, Alberta boasts a rich and active French culture.
2008
A year ago this week, ABC premiered a U.S. version of the Just for Laughs Gags hidden-camera series in primetime. The show created new introductions for the segments, but kept the same gag footage shot in Montreal, complete with cheesy music to replace any potentially francophone dialogue.
2011
The Harper Conservatives assiduously courted ethnic communities, especially South Asians and Chinese, and were greatly rewarded electorally for their efforts. They embraced the province's diversity, without jeopardizing their core anglophone vote, even winning some ridings with large francophone minorities.
2015
He said one of the commitments he made during the last municipal election was to do more to connect with the francophone community in Saint John.

References

Images

Chart 1: Internet Domain Search, 22 Jul. 2014

Chart 1: Internet Domain Search, 22 Jul. 2014