English-language words such as hashtag, grilled-cheese, and parking are now acceptable in everyday French-language conversation in Quebec society, according to guidelines recently updated by the province香蕉视频直播檚 language watchdog.

The changes were implemented in January, but the revised dictionary by the Office quebecois de la langue francaise only became widely known recently.

OQLF spokesman Jean-Pierre Le Blanc said Tuesday it香蕉视频直播檚 the first time the watchdog香蕉视频直播檚 guidelines have been changed since 2007.

香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檙e always reviewing words to see if they香蕉视频直播檙e acceptable or not,香蕉视频直播� Le Blanc said in an interview. 香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檓 sure it香蕉视频直播檚 several dozen (words) that have been anglicized.香蕉视频直播�

Quebec香蕉视频直播檚 language office is infamous across Canada for its strict application of the province香蕉视频直播檚 language laws.

Every few months a story makes headlines across the country of some language inspector fretting over English-language signage.

The OQLF caused an international stir in 2013 when an inspector warned a popular restaurant in Montreal over its use of the Italian word, 香蕉视频直播減asta,香蕉视频直播� on menus, as opposed to the French word, 香蕉视频直播減ates.香蕉视频直播�

But the OQLF, through its website, also offers Quebecers linguistic tools and other resources on how best to use the French-language.

I must confess, I wasn't aware the Qu茅b茅cois called softball "balle-molle" but now I'm rather sad they've dropped the appelation.

香蕉视频直播� Evan O'Connell (@evanoconnell)

The recent changes were made by a five-member linguistics committee composed of francophones who reviewed research done by the provincial agency.

In some cases, using both the English or the French equivalent of words got the committee香蕉视频直播檚 seal of approval.

For example, the English word, 香蕉视频直播減arking,香蕉视频直播� may now be used in French, as can its proper French-language equivalent, 香蕉视频直播渟tationnement.香蕉视频直播�

Under the language bureau香蕉视频直播檚 policy, words are reviewed based on a long list of detailed criteria, which include their general usage in Quebec.

Le Blanc said words from other languages have also crept into daily French usage, such as cafe latte, gelato and trattoria.

Benoit Melancon, professor of French literature at Universite de Montreal, said he understands why some Quebecers might be more worried about the use of English words 香蕉视频直播� known as anglicisms 香蕉视频直播� than people in France.

香蕉视频直播淭he French are more comfortable using anglicisms because their language isn香蕉视频直播檛 threatened in any way,香蕉视频直播� he said in an interview. 香蕉视频直播淏ut here, because of demographic reasons, we feel more threatened.

香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檙e surrounded by anglophones so it香蕉视频直播檚 normal to think that we should protect French more than in other places from words coming from different places.香蕉视频直播�

He noted that in France, they use the word 香蕉视频直播渇ooting香蕉视频直播� instead of jogging.

香蕉视频直播淔ooting doesn香蕉视频直播檛 exist in English, but it香蕉视频直播檚 used as an English word,香蕉视频直播� Melancon said.

Melancon gave the provincial language agency top marks for having a 香蕉视频直播渞ealistic香蕉视频直播� policy which also encourages the use of French words.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 not worth going to war over 香蕉视频直播済rilled-cheese香蕉视频直播� because it香蕉视频直播檚 common usage,香蕉视频直播� he added.

Some examples of English and French words that are both considered acceptable:

Cocktail or Coquetel

Parking or Stationnement

Grilled-cheese or Sandwich au fromage fondant

Hashtag or Mot-clic

Source: Le grand dictionnaire terminologique

Peter Rakobowchuk, The Canadian Press