The addition of an R in the name of Fanfreluche, the emblematic character played by Kim Yaroshevskaya on the small screen, caused several Quebecers to react on social networks.
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This linguistic phenomenon highlights a particularity of the Quebec language, reveals linguist Marie-Danielle Roy.
The addition of a letter like R in certain words of the language is not an isolated case in Quebec, according to the former teacher of oral communication in media arts and technologies.
“Yes, we have a hard time with the R’s. What do you mean? We don’t know. We add them, we move them. We do it all the time,” she explained on Wednesday to cultural columnist Isabelle Perron.
“We have about a hundred muscles that help us speak. […] Sometimes we go for the easy way,” specifies the linguist.
This ease is particularly noticeable in the pronunciation of the mythical character of Fanfreluche, which illustrates the phenomenon well, according to her.
Other examples are widespread in Quebecois speech. “Cro-Crodile too, there are some who do that,” she emphasizes. We sometimes say Are-oport rather than airport or even infractus rather than infartus.”
A complex heritage
This particularity of the Quebec language is partly explained by its varied origins, according to the linguist. “There is popular Latin, vulgar Latin. There are different types of Latin which means, wow, we made a language with that. Sometimes you have to learn them, the exceptions. It’s not always logical,” explains Ms. Roy.
This phenomenon of adding letters is not limited to R. “Sometimes, we say “salary”. So, the L isn’t supposed to be there, but it’s easier to pronounce. There is a hiatus,” indicates the linguist.
The specialist also emphasizes the importance of the learning context. “There is also the environment which is important: what we heard when we were young, the level of language spoken, either at work or with friends,” she says.
*This text, generated with the help of artificial intelligence, was reviewed and validated by our team based on an interview carried out at QUB.
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