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 provincesa国际传媒檚 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 itsa国际传媒檚 the first time the watchdogsa国际传媒檚 guidelines have been changed since 2007.

sa国际传媒淲esa国际传媒檙e always reviewing words to see if theysa国际传媒檙e acceptable or not,sa国际传媒� Le Blanc said in an interview. sa国际传媒淚sa国际传媒檓 sure itsa国际传媒檚 several dozen (words) that have been anglicized.sa国际传媒�

Quebecsa国际传媒檚 language office is infamous across Canada for its strict application of the provincesa国际传媒檚 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, sa国际传媒減asta,sa国际传媒� on menus, as opposed to the French word, sa国际传媒減ates.sa国际传媒�

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.

sa国际传媒� 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 committeesa国际传媒檚 seal of approval.

For example, the English word, sa国际传媒減arking,sa国际传媒� may now be used in French, as can its proper French-language equivalent, sa国际传媒渟tationnement.sa国际传媒�

Under the language bureausa国际传媒檚 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 sa国际传媒� known as anglicisms sa国际传媒� than people in France.

sa国际传媒淭he French are more comfortable using anglicisms because their language isnsa国际传媒檛 threatened in any way,sa国际传媒� he said in an interview. sa国际传媒淏ut here, because of demographic reasons, we feel more threatened.

sa国际传媒淲esa国际传媒檙e surrounded by anglophones so itsa国际传媒檚 normal to think that we should protect French more than in other places from words coming from different places.sa国际传媒�

He noted that in France, they use the word sa国际传媒渇ootingsa国际传媒� instead of jogging.

sa国际传媒淔ooting doesnsa国际传媒檛 exist in English, but itsa国际传媒檚 used as an English word,sa国际传媒� Melancon said.

Melancon gave the provincial language agency top marks for having a sa国际传媒渞ealisticsa国际传媒� policy which also encourages the use of French words.

sa国际传媒淚tsa国际传媒檚 not worth going to war over sa国际传媒済rilled-cheesesa国际传媒� because itsa国际传媒檚 common usage,sa国际传媒� 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