I'm pleased to see some of the Chinook jargon is there.
Skookum as frig! Actually they should just watch a few AvE videos, he’s a goldmine for old Canadian lingo.
I still use "saltchuck" when I'm distracted. Confuses the heck out of Californians.
A Typology of Canadianisms
131–140 of 345 posts
Re: A Typology of Canadianisms
#132Earlier quoted context omitted.
In America you do something similar with school. I went to school (not “the school”).
Also varies by region in the US for referring to highways. In Southern California it is usually "the I-5" while on the other coast you will hear a plain "I-95".
I’m from Arizona and I don’t think this is settled law here. I’m just as likely to say the 10, the I-10, or just I-10.
Re: A Typology of Canadianisms
#133Earlier quoted context omitted.
I've had to explain to an Albertan friend that hydro meant power, they mostly use coal out there from what I understand.
Alberta doesn't use any coal actually.
They have only recently finished phasing out coal, such that it appears in last year's statistics. And it's still mostly natural gas, i.e. a fossil fuel.
https://www.aeso.ca/aeso/understanding-electricity-in-albert...
Re: A Typology of Canadianisms
#134Americans dont use the term "pencil crayons"??? What do you call them?
Crayons are the fat sticks of wax (e.g. Crayola brand). Colored pencils are, well, colored pencils. There are also various different ways to pronounce “crayon”; is that also true in Canada? For example I pronounce it with one syllable: “cran”, just like the beginning of “cranberry”. I get the feeling that’s not the majority pronunciation but it’s not exactly rare either (at least where I grew up).
Same in UK for what they are ie sticks of wax (They can be thin for cheap ones that break)
In UK it is two syllables.
Re: A Typology of Canadianisms
#135Washroom vs. bathroom: I’ve always found it strange to call a room a “bathroom” if it doesn’t have a shower or tub. On the other hand, most single-family homes in Canada have a “powder room” where people can wash their face and hands. Although these facilities serve similar purposes, the former is used for public spaces, while the latter is found inside homes.
> most single-family homes in Canada have a “powder room” where people can wash their face and hands.
I think only people of a very specific upbringing ever call it that here. Certainly nobody in my circles would.
Re: A Typology of Canadianisms
#136Significant pronunciation differences are related, but not covered in this list.
For example, in Ontario (perhaps elsewhere in Canada) the word asphalt is pronounced like “ash fault” (ˈæʃfɑlt) as opposed to U.S. pronunciation like “ass fault.” (ˈæsfɔlt)
Also “pasta” is often ˈpæstə as opposed to ˈpɑstə in American English.
Re: A Typology of Canadianisms
#137Earlier quoted context omitted.
Crayons are the fat sticks of wax (e.g. Crayola brand). Colored pencils are, well, colored pencils. There are also various different ways to pronounce “crayon”; is that also true in Canada? For example I pronounce it with one syllable: “cran”, just like the beginning of “cranberry”. I get the feeling that’s not the majority pronunciation but it’s not exactly rare either (at least where I grew up).
Same in UK for what they are ie sticks of wax (They can be thin for cheap ones that break) In UK it is two syllables.
FWIW I’m American. According to the “Harvard Dialect Survey” which I found on Google, about 14% of people in the US pronounce it like I do and most of the rest with two syllables.
Re: A Typology of Canadianisms
#138Love to see Skookum in there.
Is that in all of canada or just west coast
Re: A Typology of Canadianisms
#139The one subtle difference I've noticed between Canadian and American English is on school grades. American say "first grade" where as Canada say "grade one".
Toronto here, I think approximately I'd say first-sixth grade, and grade 7-12. Grade one just sounds wrong though.
Well, Toronto is ground zero for Americanization. First grade sounds super American to my ear, I'd never say it over grade one.
Re: A Typology of Canadianisms
#140Americans dont use the term "pencil crayons"??? What do you call them?
In a feeble attempt to rationalize the Canadianism "pencil crayon"...
Pencils have cores based on graphite or charcoal.
Pencil crayons have cores based on wax or oil, with pigments added. This is basically the composition of crayons or pastels. Then it's wrapped in wood like a pencil. Thus ... "pencil crayon".