Canadian - the language, eh?

[gr82bart]

When coming to Toronto (pronounced "tirahna" very quickly - or just say "T-O"), you'll notice people will be speaking kinda funny...

So here's a website about (aboot) some Canadianisms. Enjoy...

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Art.

 

[modafoto]

For a great example on Canadian Language watch "South Park - The Movie".

 

[andrewmoodie]

I still remember some bits out of that dictionary "Canajan Eh?" that came out years and years ago:

Gradge: A place where you keep your car.

Grodge: See Gradge

Tronna : A big city in southern Ontario

Tronno: See Tronna

 

[John Bartley]

I still remember some bits out of that dictionary "Canajan Eh?" that came out years and years ago:

Gradge: A place where you keep your car.

Grodge: See Gradge

Tronna : A big city in southern Ontario

Tronno: See Tronna

I love it! - we really do speak that way !! It reminds me of a bit I read, same sort of thing about folks from Southern States (no offence intended) and their pronunciation.

What's a "tar" - "tars" are something on your car that goes flat

What's "are" - "are" is what you need to put in the "tar" that goes flat.

cheers

ps : it's Canajun - git yer spellin' rite eh?

.

 

[Michel Hardy-Vallée]

For a great example on Canadian Language watch "South Park - The Movie".

Tsk tsk! It's not about how Canadian English sounds: it's about how the AMERICANS think the Anglo-Canadians sound... Nobody says "aboot": it's because the phonetics for "about" is not an open diphthong, like in the US [ebaut], it's more reduced like [ebeut]. In the States, the [eu] diphthong is not native to many areas and sounds thus like a "oo".

 

[gr82bart]

it's because the phonetics for "about" is not an open diphthong, like in the US [ebaut], it's more reduced like [ebeut]. In the States, the [eu] diphthong is not native to many areas and sounds thus like a "oo".

I'll use this explanation the next time someone points it out to me...

Art.

 

[Michel Hardy-Vallée]

I'll use this explanation the next time someone points it out to me...

Art.

Sure. When they point out how perfectly wrong I am, just shrug and send them to Prof Boberg at McGill so he can explain it better than I do. He's doing a survey of Candian English phonetics & phonology, and was also one of my linguistics teacher.
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[Jeremy]

Tsk tsk! It's not about how Canadian English sounds: it's about how the AMERICANS think the Anglo-Canadians sound... Nobody says "aboot": it's because the phonetics for "about" is not an open diphthong, like in the US [ebaut], it's more reduced like [ebeut]. In the States, the [eu] diphthong is not native to many areas and sounds thus like a "oo".

My girlfriend, born and raised in Texas, who has a Texas accent (though not too thick) says "aboot" for about and "hoose" for house--very odd, but very adorable.

 

[Andy K]

... and over here the Queen says 'We went rind the rindabite to get to the hice.' Whereas I might say 'We wen' rahnd the rahndabaht t' ge' to the 'ahse.' and you might say 'We went round the roundabout to get to the house.'

Ps. Anyone caught speaking like Dick Van Dyke in Mary Poppins is automatically charged with treason and exiled to France.

 

[David]

Can't seem to load the URL for the Canadianisms. Am I alone in this?

 

[Michel Hardy-Vallée]

After your trip to Canada, don't forget to ponder upon it:

http://www.theonion.com/travel/travel_thattrip.html

 

[KenS]

Canadianisms

Can't seem to load the URL for the Canadianisms. Am I alone in this?

I could not get 'in' either... but we stubblejumpers don't give up the chance to "boast" that easy.

So... for those in need of some delicate education try

http://www.members.shaw.ca/kcic1/canisms.html

Ken

 

[David]

While I live in Australia, I also have Canadian citizenship. It is a cool place - specially up north in the winter and the two months of bad skidooing - eh! The best def. of a Canadian I know is someone who can make love in a canoe and not tip it over.

 

[Claire Senft]

I am amazed at how fast some United States citizens learn to speak Canadian. I had an associate at work that visited relatives in Toronto. Within a matter of days he learned the language. Sadly, when he returned to work after two weeks in Toronto nobody could understand a work he was saying.

The story does have a happy ending. Within 17 years he had completely regained his ability to speak American.