La Périphérie Du Réseau

Я сожалею, я не говорю по-французски<p> Not a word. <p> I can understand enough to watch a hockey game, find my way around Montreal, but this level of French is way over me. Sorry. Not your fault.<p><p>---<br>"History does not repeat itself, but it does rhyme" Mark Twain <br />
"The greatest price of not participating in politics is being governed by your inferiors." Plato

I understand a fair bit of it, but it is slow reading in an article of this size. It is nice to see the odd piece in French since it is an official language.

Allright, thanks for the very blunt feedback. Here is a quickie translation in case the subject matter is still of interest. <hr> <p> <b>The Edge of the Network </b> <i><br> <p> A majority of "franco-colombiens" are living well immerged in the Pacific ocean tide far away from the large francophone centres. Our assimilation rate is amongst the highest one in the country. What can the Internet really do about it? </i> <p> Empires develop by propagating their institutions from the centre toward the edge of the network. The Coliseum celebrated in Rome the distraction of bread and games. L'Académie Française in Paris elevated the language rectitude. Radio-Canada promotes our language and culture out of Montréal. These institutions spread thelselves out. The Internet by contrast, illustrates well our changing world: it is from nowhere, can be found everywhere at once, and has neither language nor culture. It escapes easy "boxing-in" thinking. <p> The edge represents where the battles are fought to defend, consolidate and even extend the empire. A locale where people have often made the decision to live. The centre is however the reference point for authenticity, where decisions are made, budgets allocated, and priorities identified: a heaven for Administrators. Contents originating from the edge of the network are threatening. The ones chosen by the centre are salutary. What happen when contents no longer adequately provide for the needs of the people at the edge? <p> <b> The two solitudes throughout history </b> <br> Romans built in Gaule their smaller scale "Coliseums". The Gaulois however prefered their own institutions such as in the famous Astérix banquets (translator note: Astérix is a very popular francophone cartoon full of political satire). The Gaulois thrived over times and became proud and shining French people. The legionaries became Gaulois or went back home. The French acted similarly later on as newcomers in Nouvelle-France. The elite similarly went back home after the "Conquête" (translator note: 1760 French surrender to the British). As time went on, these French people became Québécois and found their own moments of glory. <p> Québécois playwriter Michel Tremblay was the first one to explore new forms of expressions, to "squeek" with the language and to disrupt the established order. The pure francophonie of the era treated Québec as a sterile land with no cultural interest and was more interested with contents originating from France, or from a similar vintage. An elite recognized that new contents were responding to real needs. The Québécois took confidence and the rest is now well known. <p> The history of edges showcases the coexistence of two solitudes poorly communicating with one another due to their different relationships with the language and the centre of the network. These relationships differ considerably across the two solitudes. A better understanding of the needs become necessary. <p> <b> And here in BC </b> <br> A majority of franco-colombiens work almost exclusively in english while a minority can still do it in French just like if they still were in a large francophone centre. On this topic, let's note the inaptitude of the rectangular legionary squad to adapt to the new environment of the Gaule of Astérix. Or the one of an executive meeting to lead progressive community interests. We observe that a minority solitude controls the infrastructures and the contents. The two solitudes keep themselves occupied obviously quite differently but should have much to share somehow. <p> There is also the danger of franco-colombiens who assimilate when their infrastructures no longer respond to their needs. The message of "sterile land" "hors-Québec" has been politically charged for a long time. The one of entirely working in English while benefiting "à la carte" from certain aspects of the franco culture is also sensitive. The threat of losing "les acquis" (translator: current capabilities) in front of certain matters of facts seems a source of sclerosis. This would no longer make sense in a community that becomes more confident. <p> <b> New needs, contents and infrastructures </b> <br> First of all, the linguistic integrity of Quebec in this era cannot be compared to our marginal situation of immerged people on the West coast. But then human nature adapts to all kinds of circumstances, whether within "quelques arpents de neige" (translator: reference to Voltaire's description of Nouvelle-France that also made it to a famous early cinéma Québécois movie) or within our drizzle often interrupted by rainbows. And then there is the Internet that can certainly disrupt. Bits of hope of cultural acknowledgement in the fertile land of the Left coast turned toward the Far East? <p> But the Internet is a weapon with several cutting edges. It could immerge the entire planet in the anglophone tide today and chinese tomorrow. It could also allow us to pretend that we really live in a large francophone centre. Or more realistically provide for certain needs to better live in French. The Internet is also a tool and the results wil depend on how we really want to use it. <p> <b> It is up to us to express ourselves </b> <br> Internet lists (or forums) and blogs represent precious spaces where our immerged francophonie can take and give a breadth of linguistic air throughout the day. <p> The franco-cb list provides for the experience of a network at the edge totally detached from the centre. We observe that one of the two solitude barely expresses itself. The more vocal ones are most likely the most immerged ones that have been able to keep the need. Whether it is from developing or maintaining community contacts, promote or become aware of services, events and their reviews, occasionally engage in sparkful exchanges of latin people, practice french, or even publish a biting colum like this one, the list can facilitate it. And when franco-colombiens meet, they can better exchange their common references, thanks to the Internet having it made possible amongst the other infrastructures from the centre. <p> For those that prefer anonymousness, there are blogs, these personal diaries allow to virtually share what keeps you motivated. Everything is pretty much allowed but the results will also vary with utilization. <p> New contents will be recognized by the centre of the network when the needs for fresh air appear. But it is up to us express ourselves in order to establish a small community of proud and shining franco-colombiens. <p> <br> <b> The web sites : leclub.franco.net/franco-cb www.blogg.org <br> Leave your mark by either registering to the list, contributing a column or by engaging in a heated debate. Or just blog. </b> <br> <p> <i> Réjean Beaulieu is relearning to communicate in French following a telecom and tech sector career in Western Canada. He regularly publishes his travel diary within the franco-colombien Internet space. You can share related thoughts with him at rbeaulieu@canada.com </i>

Thank you for the translation. Very interesting!<p> You didn't have to though. I accept that I cannot read french, and I do not want to discourage you from posting in French because of my inability to read it.<p> <p>---<br>"History does not repeat itself, but it does rhyme" Mark Twain <br />
"The greatest price of not participating in politics is being governed by your inferiors." Plato

I agree, it's awesome to have some french content. Gaulois, merci beaucoup pour votre contributions!

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Jesse

Oui! Je pense que c`est bon aussi! Le Canada est francais et anglais!

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Dave Ruston