Certaines expressions que nous utilisons au quotidien peuvent sembler tout \u00e0 fait anodines. Pourtant, certaines trouvent leur origine dans des r\u00e9alit\u00e9s historiques ou culturelles autochtones, ou v\u00e9hiculent des st\u00e9r\u00e9otypes dont nous n’avons pas toujours conscience.<\/p>\n
Dans une d\u00e9marche visant \u00e0 favoriser une communication plus respectueuse et inclusive, j’ai pr\u00e9par\u00e9 un aide-m\u00e9moire bilingue qui recense des expressions courantes en fran\u00e7ais et en anglais \u00e0 \u00e9viter, explique pourquoi elles peuvent poser probl\u00e8me et propose des formulations de remplacement.<\/p>\n
La langue \u00e9volue constamment, tout comme nos pratiques r\u00e9dactionnelles. Mieux comprendre l’origine de certaines expressions nous permet de faire des choix de langage plus justes, plus respectueux et plus inclusifs.<\/p>\n
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Many expressions we use every day seem completely harmless, yet some have origins or meanings that can perpetuate stereotypes about Indigenous Peoples or trivialize important cultural traditions.<\/p>\n
As part of our ongoing efforts to promote respectful, inclusive language, I’ve put together a bilingual reference of common English and French expressions to avoid, why they can be problematic, and suggested alternatives. My hope is that this resource helps translators, editors, writers and communicators recognize these expressions before they make it into published content.<\/p>\n
Language evolves, and so do our writing practices. Small changes in the words we choose can make our communications more accurate, more inclusive and more respectful.<\/p>\n
| English expression<\/th>\n | Expression fran\u00e7aise<\/th>\n | Pourquoi c’est probl\u00e9matique<\/th>\n | Why it’s problematic<\/th>\n | Formulations de remplacement<\/th>\n | Alternative formulations<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indian summer<\/td>\n | \u00e9t\u00e9 des Indiens<\/td>\n | L’expression associe les peuples autochtones \u00e0 un ph\u00e9nom\u00e8ne m\u00e9t\u00e9orologique. Son origine \u00e9tant incertaine et ses connotations \u00e9tant jug\u00e9es d\u00e9su\u00e8tes par certaines personnes, il est pr\u00e9f\u00e9rable d’employer une formulation neutre dans les communications professionnelles.<\/td>\n | The expression associates Indigenous Peoples with a weather phenomenon. Because its origin is uncertain and some consider its connotations outdated, neutral wording is preferable in professional communications.<\/td>\n | redoux automnal, p\u00e9riode de douceur automnale, chaleur tardive<\/td>\n | late warm spell, warm autumn spell, unseasonably warm weather<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n |
| My spirit animal<\/td>\n | mon animal spirituel (au sens figur\u00e9)<\/td>\n | Cette formulation banalise des croyances et des enseignements spirituels propres \u00e0 certaines cultures autochtones.<\/td>\n | This wording trivializes sacred spiritual beliefs and teachings found in some Indigenous cultures.<\/td>\n | mon alter ego, ce qui me repr\u00e9sente, mon favori<\/td>\n | my favourite, my alter ego, something I really identify with<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n |
| Let’s have a powwow<\/td>\n | faire un pow-wow (pour dire \u00ab r\u00e9union \u00bb)<\/td>\n | Un pow-wow est un rassemblement culturel et social important. Employer ce terme pour parler d’une r\u00e9union r\u00e9duit une pratique culturelle \u00e0 une m\u00e9taphore professionnelle.<\/td>\n | A powwow is an important cultural and social gathering. Using the term for a meeting reduces a cultural practice to a workplace metaphor.<\/td>\n | tenir une r\u00e9union, en discuter, se r\u00e9unir<\/td>\n | meet, discuss, have a meeting<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n |
| Top of the totem pole<\/td>\n | au sommet du totem<\/td>\n | L’expression d\u00e9forme la signification culturelle des m\u00e2ts tot\u00e9miques, qui ne repr\u00e9sentent pas une hi\u00e9rarchie.<\/td>\n | Misrepresents the cultural meaning of totem poles, which do not represent a hierarchy.<\/td>\n | au sommet de la hi\u00e9rarchie, au rang le plus \u00e9lev\u00e9<\/td>\n | at the top of the hierarchy, in the most senior position<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n |
| Low man on the totem pole<\/td>\n | au bas du totem<\/td>\n | Repose sur la m\u00eame interpr\u00e9tation erron\u00e9e des m\u00e2ts tot\u00e9miques.<\/td>\n | Relies on the same misunderstanding of the cultural significance of totem poles.<\/td>\n | au dernier \u00e9chelon, au rang le moins \u00e9lev\u00e9<\/td>\n | in the most junior position, at the lowest level<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n |
| Off the reservation<\/td>\n | sortir de la r\u00e9serve (traduction litt\u00e9rale)<\/td>\n | L’expression \u00e9voque les politiques coloniales qui limitaient les d\u00e9placements des membres des Premi\u00e8res Nations vivant dans les r\u00e9serves.<\/td>\n | Refers to colonial policies that restricted the movement of First Nations people living on reserves.<\/td>\n | sortir du cadre, s’\u00e9carter du plan<\/td>\n | go off track, go outside the plan<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n |
| On the warpath<\/td>\n | sur le sentier de la guerre<\/td>\n | Perp\u00e9tue le st\u00e9r\u00e9otype voulant que les peuples autochtones soient naturellement violents ou belliqueux.<\/td>\n | Reinforces stereotypes portraying Indigenous Peoples as violent or aggressive.<\/td>\n | \u00eatre tr\u00e8s en col\u00e8re, \u00eatre d\u00e9termin\u00e9<\/td>\n | be furious, be determined<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n |
| Circle the wagons<\/td>\n | former un cercle de chariots<\/td>\n | \u00c9voque les r\u00e9cits coloniaux opposant les colons aux peuples autochtones.<\/td>\n | Evokes colonial narratives portraying Indigenous Peoples as a threat to settlers.<\/td>\n | resserrer les rangs, faire front commun<\/td>\n | close ranks, rally together<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n |
| Bury the hatchet<\/td>\n | enterrer la hache de guerre<\/td>\n | Reprend une pratique diplomatique autochtone sans son contexte culturel.<\/td>\n | Uses an Indigenous diplomatic practice outside its original cultural context.<\/td>\n | faire la paix, se r\u00e9concilier<\/td>\n | reconcile, make peace<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n |
| Send a smoke signal<\/td>\n | envoyer un signal de fum\u00e9e<\/td>\n | R\u00e9duit des pratiques historiques complexes \u00e0 un clich\u00e9.<\/td>\n | Reduces historical communication practices to a stereotype.<\/td>\n | m’envoyer un message, me faire signe<\/td>\n | send me a message, let me know<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n |
| Rain dance<\/td>\n | faire la danse de la pluie<\/td>\n | Tourne en d\u00e9rision des pratiques c\u00e9r\u00e9monielles ou spirituelles.<\/td>\n | Makes light of ceremonial or spiritual practices.<\/td>\n | croiser les doigts, esp\u00e9rer<\/td>\n | keep your fingers crossed, hope for the best<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n |
| Medicine man<\/td>\n | homme-m\u00e9decine<\/td>\n | G\u00e9n\u00e9ralise des r\u00f4les spirituels qui diff\u00e8rent selon les Nations.<\/td>\n | Oversimplifies spiritual and ceremonial roles that vary among Indigenous Nations.<\/td>\n | gu\u00e9risseur traditionnel*, A\u00een\u00e9*, gardien du savoir* (*selon le contexte)<\/td>\n | healer*, Elder*, Knowledge Keeper* (*as appropriate)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n |
| Chief (used jokingly)<\/td>\n | chef (employ\u00e9 comme surnom)<\/td>\n | Banalise un titre de leadership traditionnel ou officiel.<\/td>\n | Trivializes an important traditional or official leadership title.<\/td>\n | patron, responsable, leader<\/td>\n | boss, leader, manager<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n |
| Tribal knowledge<\/td>\n | savoir tribal, connaissances tribales<\/td>\n | Utilise \u00ab tribal \u00bb comme m\u00e9taphore organisationnelle, ce qui banalise les r\u00e9alit\u00e9s des peuples autochtones.<\/td>\n | Uses “tribal” metaphorically, diminishing the reality of Indigenous Peoples.<\/td>\n | connaissances institutionnelles, savoir organisationnel<\/td>\n | institutional knowledge, organizational knowledge<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n |
| Tribalism (metaphorical)<\/td>\n | tribalisme (au sens figur\u00e9)<\/td>\n | Associe les soci\u00e9t\u00e9s tribales \u00e0 des comportements irrationnels ou conflictuels.<\/td>\n | Uses “tribal” pejoratively to describe irrational or divisive behaviour.<\/td>\n | esprit de clan, polarisation, factionnalisme<\/td>\n | factionalism, polarization<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n |
| Indian giver<\/td>\n | donneur indien<\/td>\n | Repose sur un st\u00e9r\u00e9otype raciste \u00e0 l’\u00e9gard des peuples autochtones.<\/td>\n | Based on a racist stereotype about Indigenous Peoples.<\/td>\n | reprendre un cadeau, revenir sur sa parole<\/td>\n | take back a gift, go back on one’s word<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n |
| Too many chiefs, not enough Indians<\/td>\n | trop de chefs, pas assez d’Indiens<\/td>\n | R\u00e9duit les peuples autochtones \u00e0 des st\u00e9r\u00e9otypes coloniaux.<\/td>\n | Relies on colonial stereotypes about Indigenous Peoples.<\/td>\n | trop de responsables, pas assez de personnes pour ex\u00e9cuter le travail<\/td>\n | too many leaders, not enough doers<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n |
| Sitting Indian style<\/td>\n | s’asseoir en Indien, s’asseoir \u00e0 l’indienne<\/td>\n | Utilise une identit\u00e9 autochtone pour d\u00e9crire une position assise.<\/td>\n | Uses Indigenous identity to describe a sitting position.<\/td>\n | s’asseoir en tailleur, s’asseoir les jambes crois\u00e9es<\/td>\n | sit cross-legged<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n |
| Playing cowboys and Indians<\/td>\n | jouer aux cowboys et aux Indiens<\/td>\n | Reproduit un r\u00e9cit colonial opposant les colons aux peuples autochtones.<\/td>\n | Reinforces colonial narratives opposing settlers and Indigenous Peoples.<\/td>\n | reformuler selon le contexte<\/td>\n | rewrite according to context<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n |
| Indian file<\/td>\n | \u00e0 la file indienne<\/td>\n | Associe une fa\u00e7on de marcher \u00e0 un st\u00e9r\u00e9otype culturel.<\/td>\n | Associates a way of walking with a cultural stereotype.<\/td>\n | en file, l’un derri\u00e8re l’autre, \u00e0 la queue leu leu<\/td>\n | in single file<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n |
| Gone native<\/td>\n | s’\u00eatre ensauvag\u00e9<\/td>\n | Repose sur l’id\u00e9e coloniale qu’adopter une culture autochtone constitue un recul.<\/td>\n | Reflects the colonial idea that adopting an Indigenous culture is a loss of civilization.<\/td>\n | adopter les coutumes locales, s’int\u00e9grer<\/td>\n | adopt local customs, assimilate into local culture<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n |
| Indian time<\/td>\n | l’heure indienne<\/td>\n | V\u00e9hicule le st\u00e9r\u00e9otype raciste selon lequel les personnes autochtones seraient syst\u00e9matiquement en retard.<\/td>\n | Promotes the racist stereotype that Indigenous people are habitually late.<\/td>\n | reformuler selon le contexte<\/td>\n | rewrite according to context<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n |
| Wild Indian<\/td>\n | Indien sauvage<\/td>\n | Pr\u00e9sente les personnes autochtones comme primitives ou incontr\u00f4lables.<\/td>\n | Portrays Indigenous people as primitive or uncivilized.<\/td>\n | reformuler selon le contexte<\/td>\n | rewrite according to context<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n |
| Redskin<\/td>\n | Peau-Rouge<\/td>\n | Insulte raciste et d\u00e9shumanisante.<\/td>\n | A racist and dehumanizing slur.<\/td>\n | Aucune.<\/td>\n | None.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n |
| Squaw<\/td>\n | squaw<\/td>\n | Insulte raciste et sexiste visant les femmes autochtones.<\/td>\n | A racist and sexist slur directed at Indigenous women.<\/td>\n | Aucune.<\/td>\n | None.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n |
| Half-breed<\/td>\n | sang-m\u00eal\u00e9, demi-sang<\/td>\n | R\u00e9duit l’identit\u00e9 d’une personne \u00e0 une pr\u00e9tendue proportion de sang et constitue une insulte historique.<\/td>\n | Reduces a person’s identity to blood quantum and is a historical slur.<\/td>\n | M\u00e9tis (uniquement si la personne appartient \u00e0 la Nation m\u00e9tisse), reformuler selon le contexte<\/td>\n | M\u00e9tis (only when referring to the M\u00e9tis Nation), rewrite according to context<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n |
| Eskimo<\/td>\n | Esquimau<\/td>\n | Terme g\u00e9n\u00e9ralement consid\u00e9r\u00e9 comme d\u00e9suet et offensant au Canada.<\/td>\n | Generally considered outdated and offensive in Canada.<\/td>\n | Inuit, Inuk<\/td>\n | Inuit, Inuk<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n |
From coast to coast<\/strong><\/td>\n| d’un oc\u00e9an \u00e0 l’autre<\/strong><\/td>\n | Cette expression ne refl\u00e8te pas l’ensemble du territoire canadien puisqu’elle exclut l’oc\u00e9an Arctique. Elle ne correspond plus aux pratiques privil\u00e9gi\u00e9es dans les communications inclusives.<\/td>\n | This expression does not fully reflect Canada’s geography because it excludes the Arctic Ocean. It no longer aligns with inclusive communication practices.<\/td>\n | partout au Canada, partout au pays, dans l’ensemble du Canada, d’un bout \u00e0 l’autre du pays, aux quatre coins du Canada<\/td>\n | across Canada, throughout Canada, across the country, nationwide, from coast to coast to coast (when appropriate)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n | <\/div>\n <\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Certaines expressions que nous utilisons au quotidien peuvent sembler tout \u00e0 fait anodines. Pourtant, certaines trouvent leur origine dans des r\u00e9alit\u00e9s historiques ou culturelles autochtones, ou v\u00e9hiculent des st\u00e9r\u00e9otypes dont nous n’avons pas toujours conscience. Dans une d\u00e9marche visant \u00e0 favoriser une communication plus respectueuse et inclusive, j’ai pr\u00e9par\u00e9 un aide-m\u00e9moire bilingue qui recense des […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-788","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.eliksir.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/788","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.eliksir.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.eliksir.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.eliksir.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.eliksir.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=788"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.eliksir.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/788\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":790,"href":"https:\/\/www.eliksir.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/788\/revisions\/790"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.eliksir.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=788"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.eliksir.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=788"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.eliksir.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=788"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}} |