A letter to the Editor

Here's an interesting letter to the editor published in the LE DEVOIR on July 19, 2009
You can find the original French version at this LINK.

Here is my translation;

"After a family discussion, we decided never to set foot in the Place Laurier mall in Quebec City.

Reason? The insidious anglicization and bilingualism that's become more and more pronounced over the years. First because of the signage and then because of the choice of music (abominably banal, commercial and heavily if not exclusively Anglo-American, which is in itself an assault on the senses), in some shops (systematic bilingualism in the 'Lush Vancouver' shop, for example, is an incredible violation of the Frenchness of Quebec, all the while the same stores in Canada, are surprisingly English only ...
But the list would be long, from 'Future Shop' to 'Body and Beach' through 'Second Cup,' stores that stubbornly refuse to give a French name in Quebec.
But I'm not ignorant of the fact that on this last point Place Laurier doesn't really have control.

But it even goes to the 'internet sans-fils" access system which is identified as "Wi-Fi! That was too much.

For us, the use of the term "Wi-Fi" was the drop of water that made the the already too full bucket overflow!

And so we say adieu..."

Marie-Louise Lacroix

Wow!
The letter as it stands is creepy enough, but even more disturbing because it's basic premise is just plain wrong.
How does a newspaper print a letter with such a flawed arguement?

Wi-Fi is the modern term (of English origin) that refers to wireless access to internet. It's a shortened version of 'Wireless Fidelity'. The letter writer insists that the correct French term for Wi-Fi is 'internet sans-fil' but she is wrong.

"Wi-Fi" or "WiFi" has entered the popular French lexicon in France and Quebec. Googling 'Wi-Fi' or 'WiFi' coupled with the word 'FRANCE' will reveal that the term is well entrenched in that country.
I would refer the Mme. Lacroix to this web page describing the WiFi coverage offered by ORANGE the giant French wireless operator.
Here in Quebec, she can also click on the web page entitled Points d’accès Wi-Fi de Cogeco

At any rate, could you imagine boycotting a mall because of the the background music?

If Barry Manilow is playing in the elevator, does it mean the stairs?

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