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 provinceB次元官网网址檚 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 itB次元官网网址檚 the first time the watchdogB次元官网网址檚 guidelines have been changed since 2007.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e always reviewing words to see if theyB次元官网网址檙e acceptable or not,B次元官网网址� Le Blanc said in an interview. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 sure itB次元官网网址檚 several dozen (words) that have been anglicized.B次元官网网址�

QuebecB次元官网网址檚 language office is infamous across Canada for its strict application of the provinceB次元官网网址檚 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, B次元官网网址減asta,B次元官网网址� on menus, as opposed to the French word, B次元官网网址減ates.B次元官网网址�

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.

B次元官网网址� 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 committeeB次元官网网址檚 seal of approval.

For example, the English word, B次元官网网址減arking,B次元官网网址� may now be used in French, as can its proper French-language equivalent, B次元官网网址渟tationnement.B次元官网网址�

Under the language bureauB次元官网网址檚 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 B次元官网网址� known as anglicisms B次元官网网址� than people in France.

B次元官网网址淭he French are more comfortable using anglicisms because their language isnB次元官网网址檛 threatened in any way,B次元官网网址� he said in an interview. B次元官网网址淏ut here, because of demographic reasons, we feel more threatened.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e surrounded by anglophones so itB次元官网网址檚 normal to think that we should protect French more than in other places from words coming from different places.B次元官网网址�

He noted that in France, they use the word B次元官网网址渇ootingB次元官网网址� instead of jogging.

B次元官网网址淔ooting doesnB次元官网网址檛 exist in English, but itB次元官网网址檚 used as an English word,B次元官网网址� Melancon said.

Melancon gave the provincial language agency top marks for having a B次元官网网址渞ealisticB次元官网网址� policy which also encourages the use of French words.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 not worth going to war over B次元官网网址済rilled-cheeseB次元官网网址� because itB次元官网网址檚 common usage,B次元官网网址� 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