The Office Québécois de la Langue Française (OQLF) released a study earlier this month on the state of the French language in Quebec and, as per normal, many headlines focused on potentially negative findings. The notion that French is mortally imperilled in Quebec, certainly in the medium and long term, has baked itself firmly into the country’s politics and journalism.

“Exclusive use of French at work declines in Quebec: OQLF study,” read one headline.

“Montrealers less likely to use French in the workplace (than other Quebecers),” said another.

And “More than 14.4 per cent of Quebecers now order their meals (for delivery) in English.”

We also got some utterly shocking positive headlines, however, reflecting the OQLF study’s main finding — to wit, “The use of French in public life is stable in Quebec.”