Anglophone, Francophone, Allophone
– B2-C2 (intermediate to advanced) –
Practice Your Listening Comprehension
Practice Your Reading Comprehension
While the words, “Anglophone,” “Francophone,” and “Allophone,” might not be common in certain English-speaking countries, they are certainly common in Canadian English and society.
ANGLOPHONE
In Canadian English, this word typically means:
(noun) a person whose native language is English
(adjective) related to the English language and its subsequent societies, cultures and language variants (i.e. native English-speaking peoples and/or land where English is an official and/or the primary language)
FRANCOPHONE
In Canadian English, this word typically means:
(noun) a person whose native language is French
(adjective) related to the French language and its subsequent societies, cultures and language variants (i.e. native French-speaking peoples and/or land where French is an official and/or the primary language)
ALLOPHONE
In Canadian English, this word typically means:
(noun) a person whose native language is not English, French, or (sometimes) an Indigenous language in Canada
NOTE
Depending on the style guide that a person is using to write in English, rules about capitalization may vary regarding these words. However, standardized Canadian English suggests to always capitalize these words in order to show respect to the people, cultures, languages, and nations that these words refer to.
EXAMPLES
“He is an Anglophone. He was born in London in the UK, but then moved to Paris to live with his wife, a Francophone. Together, they speak French, which is his second language and her native language.”
“There are many more Anglophone nations than just England, the USA, Canada, and Australia. In fact, there are over 86 Anglophone countries and territories in the world.”
Canada’s official languages are English and French, but this does not mean that everyone who lives in Canada is bilingual in these languages. In reality, most fluent speakers of these languages are generally divided into different regions: Anglophone provinces, territories, and communities and Francophone provinces, territories, and communities. The Anglophone regions are a part of what is called Anglo-Canada and the Francophone regions are a part of what is called French Canada.”
“There are approximately 200 languages spoken in Canada by Allophones (as of 2021). The most common languages of Canadian Allophones include Mandarin, Punjabi, Cantonese, Spanish, and Hindi.”
Are you an Anglophone, Francophone, or Allophone? What is your native language and where are you from? Practice using this vocabulary to describe yourself in English in the comments below.
If you would like to learn why these words are common in Canada, you can book an Informal English Conversation class on our Lessons page. During this lesson you can practice your English speaking skills and learn more about Canadian culture, society, and vocabulary.
