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害羞草研究所檚 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害羞草研究所檚 the first time the watchdog害羞草研究所檚 guidelines have been changed since 2007.

害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e always reviewing words to see if they害羞草研究所檙e acceptable or not,害羞草研究所� Le Blanc said in an interview. 害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 sure it害羞草研究所檚 several dozen (words) that have been anglicized.害羞草研究所�

Quebec害羞草研究所檚 language office is infamous across Canada for its strict application of the province害羞草研究所檚 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, 害羞草研究所減asta,害羞草研究所� on menus, as opposed to the French word, 害羞草研究所減ates.害羞草研究所�

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.

害羞草研究所� 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害羞草研究所檚 seal of approval.

For example, the English word, 害羞草研究所減arking,害羞草研究所� may now be used in French, as can its proper French-language equivalent, 害羞草研究所渟tationnement.害羞草研究所�

Under the language bureau害羞草研究所檚 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 害羞草研究所� known as anglicisms 害羞草研究所� than people in France.

害羞草研究所淭he French are more comfortable using anglicisms because their language isn害羞草研究所檛 threatened in any way,害羞草研究所� he said in an interview. 害羞草研究所淏ut here, because of demographic reasons, we feel more threatened.

害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e surrounded by anglophones so it害羞草研究所檚 normal to think that we should protect French more than in other places from words coming from different places.害羞草研究所�

He noted that in France, they use the word 害羞草研究所渇ooting害羞草研究所� instead of jogging.

害羞草研究所淔ooting doesn害羞草研究所檛 exist in English, but it害羞草研究所檚 used as an English word,害羞草研究所� Melancon said.

Melancon gave the provincial language agency top marks for having a 害羞草研究所渞ealistic害羞草研究所� policy which also encourages the use of French words.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 not worth going to war over 害羞草研究所済rilled-cheese害羞草研究所� because it害羞草研究所檚 common usage,害羞草研究所� 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