Promoting Linguistic Duality: The Importance of Official Languages A Weekly Series

As Canadians, we are very proud of our multicultural diversity. As public servants, in order to
provide the best services to our clients and fellow co-workers, we must acknowledge and respect
all aspects of each others culture, including language. In Canada, where we have two official
languages, promoting linguistic duality and encouraging development of minority language
communities contributes to unity and stronger links among Canadians.
Newfoundland and Labrador has French as a first or second language in many schools,
classrooms, offices and communities. As DFO NL Region employees, it is important that we
understand the value of official languages, so we can support linguistic duality and be proactive
in fostering positive relationships, particularly in official minority language communities.
To this end, over the next few weeks, you will be seeing more about official languages and what
we can do to promote linguistic duality in our province and in our workplace. Please see
attached for the first poster in this series: What is an Official Language Minority Community?
Click the following link for more information on French in Canada: http://www.noslanguesourlanguages.gc.ca/collaborateurs-contributors/articles/20151019-francais-canada-frencheng.html
Stay tuned to MyDFO for more information and tips on promoting linguistic duality in your
area.

Week 2 - Promoting Linguistic Duality: The Importance of Official Languages

Part VII of the Official Languages Act clearly states the Government of Canadas commitment
to:
o (a) enhancing the vitality of the English and French linguistic minority communities in
Canada and supporting and assisting their development; and
o (b) fostering the full recognition and use of both English and French in Canadian society.
All Canadians have the right to communicate with and receive services from federal institutions
in the official language of their choice.
So what does this mean for DFO employees in the Newfoundland and Labrador Region? As
public servants, it is our responsibility to ensure that we remain tuned in to the needs of all
Canadians, including those who belong to Official Language Minority Communities. By
providing active offer (clearly indicating that services are available in both official languages)
and bilingual communications, we can help preserve the French language at work and in our
communities.

Beginning next week on MyDFO, we will begin exploring some of the ways that we can support
Official Minority Language Communities in our region. Increase your knowledge and learn how
to foster open and bilingual communications in the workplace and in your community by
watching this space for posts about translation services and tools, French language resources, and
how and when to use the active offer.
For more information about Official Languages initiatives and programs in Canada, please visit:
http://www.pch.gc.ca/eng/1266413216352
To view the The Official Languages Act, please click here: http://lawslois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/o-3.01/
Please feel free to print the attached poster to put up in your work area.

Week 3 - Promoting Linguistic Duality: The Importance of Official Languages

In last weeks post, the importance of linguistic duality was highlighted through acknowledging
our commitment as public servants to supporting official language minority communities
(OLMCs).
What has Newfoundland and Labrador Region been doing to help regional OLMCs develop and
flourish? In recent years, DFO has worked with numerous organizations to serve francophones
throughout Newfoundland and Labrador including:
-

Fdration des francophones de Terre-Neuve et Labrador (FFTNL)

Rseau de dveloppement conomique et emploi (RDE)
Franco-Jeunes

In consultation with these organizations, DFO staff have attended career fairs, hosted tours for
Franco-Jeunes students and participated in community workshops. All of these positive actions
help to identify the needs and interests of official minority language communities in the region
and promote linguistic duality.
We can all do our part to help French flourish. NL Region employees are encouraged to explore
the ways in which they can contribute to OLMCs and linguistic duality in their areas, including
collaboration with the francophone associations listed above.
To learn more about these organizations in Newfoundland and Labrador, please visit:
http://www.francotnl.ca/newfoundland-and-labrador-136-fftnl.php
http://www.rdeetnl.ca/rdee-tnl-home/
http://fjcf.ca/
Keep your eyes on MyDFO next week for active offer tip sheets that can be used in the
workplace!
Please feel free to print the attached poster to put up in your work area.

Week 4 - Promoting Linguistic Duality: The Importance of Official Languages

Over the past few weeks, the importance of the active offer has been mentioned several times.
Although the DFO NL Region is unilingual, the active offer is a part of honouring linguistic
duality and is important to official language minority communities (OLMCs).
The active offer includes two components:
- The Visual Component : The Sign
- The Audible Component : The Greeting
As mentioned in earlier posts, the French populations throughout the province vary in location
from St. Johns to the Port au Port Peninsula all the way to Labrador. Did you know that in
Labrador, nearly 1,650 people speak French, which accounts for to 9.4% of Labrador's total
population? Although French speakers are a small percentage of the overall population,
practicing the active offer fosters inclusion and demonstrates respect for official language
minority groups. By simply greeting clients, visitors and employees in both English and French,
we demonstrate our commitment as public servants to the Official Languages Act.
Here are a few resources to keep handy at your desk:
From Bonjour to Au revoir - Usual Expressions on the Telephone: http://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/psmfpfm/ve/ol-lo/olcsp-locsp/te-eng.asp
The Active Offer on the Telephone and in Person: http://www.tbssct.gc.ca/pubs_pol/hrpubs/tb_a3/serv_pub-eng.asp#gb7
Please feel free to print off the attached posters as well to have at your workstation. Next week, a
how-to guide for LexiTech Translation services will be explored.

Translation Tips Promoting Linguistic Duality: The Importance of Official Languages

Over the past four weeks, the importance of developing and fostering linguistic duality has been
explored through understanding our role as public servants and our commitment to the Official
Languages Act.
As well as acknowledging official language minority communities (OLMCs) and clients through
different practices like the active offer, part of developing linguistic duality in the workplace is
providing access to information in both official languages. At DFO, we use Lexitech translation
and editing services to translate everything from emails and documents to outreach materials and
Twitter posts.
Below are some translation tips and considerations to make your translation experience as
effective and cost efficient as possible.

Plan in advance and give as much notice as possible when having a document translated.
This allows for important revision and editing time.

How long is your document? Is there any way to cut down on unnecessary words or
phrases?
Is this a document that is being revised? (In other words, is there an original version
therefore requiring only certain parts to be reviewed and translated?) Attaching an
original copy can help the translator produce the best possible product.
Is there any background information available? (i.e. a glossary of terms that are specific
to your organization, acronyms, etc.)

Please see the attached PDF for the Lexi-Tech Translation and Editing Request User Guide.
See here for the Lexi-tech log-in page to create an account and submit a translation request:
https://pats.lexitech.ca/pats.net/WebApplications/DFOTranslationRequests/Portal/login.aspx?
ReturnUrl=%2fpats.net%2fWebApplications%2fDFOTranslationRequests%2fmain.aspx
Next week, we will look at some tools to help with quick translations as well as free online
resources that can help you learn the French language.