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MONTREAL – For decades, the Office québécois de la langue française has stood as a rampart against the relentless creep of English. In France, people could leave their cars at “le parking,” check their “mail” on their computers and relax on “le week-end.”

In Quebec, the provincial language watchdog toiled to ensure people used the approved French terms: “parc de stationnement,” “courriel” and “fin de semaine.”

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But in a new policy that is being seen by some in the province as a white flag of surrender, the Office is granting approval to some anglicisms that have gained widespread popularity in the province.

For example, restaurants can now put “grilled-cheese” on their menus rather than the cumbersome but government-approved “sandwich au fromage fondant.”

Bartenders can call a cocktail “un cocktail,” instead of using the made-in-Quebec facsimile “coquetel.” And tennis players can take satisfaction from a well hit “smash” after the Office acknowledged that its recommended replacement — “coup d’écrasement” — just hasn’t caught on.