The Saguenay author Kevin Lambert, whom the world discovers with wonder through his novel May our joy remain, has just won another prestigious nomination: after the Goncourt, he is in the running for the Médicis Prize. A recognition which, without doubt, places Quebec at the top of French-speaking letters. Let us hope that this meteoric rise will not escape some of the most cynical observers, including one in particular: Gad Saad.
During an intervention on Joe Rogan’s podcast, the psychology professor at Concordia University described Quebec French as an “affront to human dignity.” A bold assertion, all the more notable when we consider the recent honors bestowed on Lambert for novels that elevate the vernacular. But we understand, of course, Mr. Saad’s excess enthusiasm. After all, an appearance on the Joe Rogan Podcast is a real event. A summit that few reach, the council of wise men, the Mecca of intellectual subtlety and prud’homie. Who could resist such exposure?
Sarcasm aside, what is worth remembering here is the importance of the flavor that surrounds the tongue. Language, with its nuances, its particularities and its developments, is the reflection of a culture, a history and a people. To decree that a language is an “affront to human dignity” is to ignore everything that it carries within it: it is a serious error that Mr. Saad is making. But perhaps he doesn’t care, perhaps he considers his notoriety such that he does not lower himself to the level of Quebec literature. Because after all, what could an appointment at Goncourt or Medici mean for a pilgrim of the Joe Rogan Experience? Probably nothing. But the uniqueness of our language remains, strong and proud. And we don’t mess with her.
To watch on video