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A Typology of Canadianisms

dchp.arts.ubc.ca

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Re: A Typology of Canadianisms

#151

Post by pcthrowaway »

emptybits wrote: post #140
bawolff wrote: post #5

Americans 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".

Wait, coloured pencils aren't actually pencils?

I've never heard Pencil Crayon, in British Columbia, but then again I did live in the U.S. for all of my school years.

Re: A Typology of Canadianisms

#152

Post by Cthulhu_ »

wk_end wrote: post #58

Even though I lived in the US for a decade, it still surprises me to learn that certain words are Canadianisms. I wonder how often people had no idea what I was talking aboot and just didn't speak up.

I strongly suspect most language / communication is clear from inference and context, and the exact words used aren't super important unless they are really out there or a different language entirely. It's the same with learning a foreign language (english in my case), you read books and posts on the internet but once you reach a certain base level, except for the really out there words, you can infer the meaning from context.

Re: A Typology of Canadianisms

#153

Post by darkwater »

Cthulhu_ wrote: post #152
wk_end wrote: post #58

Even though I lived in the US for a decade, it still surprises me to learn that certain words are Canadianisms. I wonder how often people had no idea what I was talking aboot and just didn't speak up.

I strongly suspect most language / communication is clear from inference and context, and the exact words used aren't super important unless they are really out there or a different language entirely. It's the same with learning a foreign language (english in my case), you read books and posts on the internet but once you reach a certain base level, except for the really out there words, you can infer the meaning fro…

> you read books and posts on the internet but once you reach a certain base level, except for the really out there words, you can infer the meaning from context.

Yes. Unless you are like me, you think you are good at inferring from context, never lookup a word in the dictionary and think for a few years it means something while it actually means the opposite.

Re: A Typology of Canadianisms

#155

Post by cik »

nucleardog wrote: post #51

Surprising one for me was "all dressed" as a term for, e.g., a pizza with all the toppings. Apparently it's a direct translation from French and is pretty exclusive to Quebec English and the Easternmost part of Ontario (which is heavily French). And Saskatchewan. Which the site notes is "a bit of a mystery". Also found "parkade" interesting--apparently it's still much more heavily used in Western Canada, and they att…

> And Saskatchewan. Which the site notes is "a bit of a mystery".

There's no mystery. This is rubbish research. In parts of Manitoba we also use all-dressed for the same purpose (and of course chips). The unifying factor is French culture. The Riel Rebellion helped bring tremendous franocphones, and French culture out west. There are areas like St. Boniface in Winnipeg where s some people speak only French. The Metis are in both Manitoba and Quebec...

Re: A Typology of Canadianisms

#156

Post by cik »

joshdavham wrote: post #31

I wish they would've explained the term "soaker" a bit better as it's such a Canadian thing. Basically, when the snow starts to melt in the spring, you'll sometimes accidentally step on some thin ice that leads directly to a puddle underneath and soak your boot. It sucks! Also, we would often call these "booters" in Manitoba, where I'm from.

Yup, they'll forever be booters to me to. Go Bison?

Re: A Typology of Canadianisms

#157

Post by Biganon »

bcoates wrote: post #48
trashchomper wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As an Australian I always find it funny going places and having to remember which dance-around word everyone uses for "toilet". Washroom, restroom, bathroom, there's so many!

'Toilet' itself is a euphemism, an archaic term for dressing/washing room and/or the act of washing up

Let's call it the poop room

Re: A Typology of Canadianisms

#158

Post by TonyTrapp »

shawn_w wrote: post #118
xattt wrote: post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Soviet apartments had a separate rooms for the toilet and the area with a bath/shower/sink. The area behind the toilet was usually a hinged wall that could be opened to reveal the entry point for utilities. I assume toilet hands were an unspoken issue, because there was no possible way to traverse from the toilet room to the washroom without touching anything. For a complete tangent, I’ll mention that Soviet toilets…

I believe German toilets have the same shelf.

Mostly in older buildings. I don't think you see it as often in more modern bathrooms anymore.

Re: A Typology of Canadianisms

#159

Post by bregma »

PieUser wrote: post #42

"upload" and "download" are interesting to me, which, in addition to the standard meaning, refer to the transfer of costs/jurisdiction to a higher and lower level of government respectively (between provincial and federal for instance)

That usage came about during the right-wing political swing of the 1990s, just as the phrase was becoming popular in connection with computers. Generally, costs and responsibilities were downloaded and revenues and control were uploaded.

Re: A Typology of Canadianisms

#160

Post by 0xEF »

darkwater wrote: post #153
Cthulhu_ wrote: post #152

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I strongly suspect most language / communication is clear from inference and context, and the exact words used aren't super important unless they are really out there or a different language entirely. It's the same with learning a foreign language (english in my case), you read books and posts on the internet but once you reach a certain base level, except for the really out there words, you can infer the meaning fro…

> you read books and posts on the internet but once you reach a certain base level, except for the really out there words, you can infer the meaning from context. Yes. Unless you are like me, you think you are good at inferring from context, never lookup a word in the dictionary and think for a few years it means something while it actually means the opposite.

Could be worse, and be like me, who instantly looks up any word he doesn't understand, and because he does it so often, forgets the definition almost as soon as it is read after moving on.

It probably takes me a good seven to ten times of looking up a new-to-me word to really nail it down. As a result, a lot of my blog/personal writing is filled with odd phrasings of things because I never quite learned the prescriptive way of using said word.

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