Differences between Canadian and British people
Jul 6th 2014, 8:58 pm
#211
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 50
Re: Differences between Canadian and British people
My parents were roughly in school at the same time as you and they lived in the UK from their early 40's and they have managed to deal with mm,cm, metres, degrees centigrade etc w/o blowing a gasket. A furlong is 660 feet.
My schooling in the UK was in metres, cm etc but then the road signs were all in miles and mph which didn't make a lot of sense. When I moved to Canada in 1981 it was all metric and in my job I only use metric measurements.
I am sorry to hear about the loss of your husband and I hope you can enjoy this forum but if you are going to go on the attack about people in Canada who don't speak english, use metric, cook foods with strong odours, be prepared for some responses. In terms of food with strong odours, many true blue Canadians (even those who speak english) are not crazy about the smell of kippers or roast lamb. To each his own.
I do however agree with you that if you live near Windsor that the nearby US offerings are not too appealing. The unfortunate part about Detroit is that many areas of the City itself are no go areas and then the suburbs could be anywhere USA.
In terms of sniping commenters, unfortunately you haven't received the ire of some of the more caustic ones on this site.
My schooling in the UK was in metres, cm etc but then the road signs were all in miles and mph which didn't make a lot of sense. When I moved to Canada in 1981 it was all metric and in my job I only use metric measurements.
I am sorry to hear about the loss of your husband and I hope you can enjoy this forum but if you are going to go on the attack about people in Canada who don't speak english, use metric, cook foods with strong odours, be prepared for some responses. In terms of food with strong odours, many true blue Canadians (even those who speak english) are not crazy about the smell of kippers or roast lamb. To each his own.
I do however agree with you that if you live near Windsor that the nearby US offerings are not too appealing. The unfortunate part about Detroit is that many areas of the City itself are no go areas and then the suburbs could be anywhere USA.
In terms of sniping commenters, unfortunately you haven't received the ire of some of the more caustic ones on this site.
Germany etc. but even they can resort to English when the need arises as they are taught in school but not strewn all over their country. Did you mean I was fortunate in not having received more caustic remarks or as you said unfortunate? I suppose my first impression of Canada especially Toronto where we first were was just too big, overbearing to say the least I couldn't handle it and missed home so much.
Jul 6th 2014, 9:06 pm
#212
Nuther day in paradise.ca
Joined: Aug 2008
Location: Ajax, Ontario
Posts: 7,263
Jul 6th 2014, 9:08 pm
#213
Yo
Joined: Nov 2012
Location: UK
Posts: 24,474
Re: Differences between Canadian and British people
I'm not annoyed about the people who don't speak English, heaven forbid there are probably enough people in the U.K. who don't either. I have a grievance over this country Canada which peppered French everywhere. Non English speaking immigrants who come here have enough problems learning English which is far more important than learning French don't your think? English is used almost world wide. Unless you live in a country which basically only speak there own language on the whole e.g. France, Spain Italy
Germany etc. but even they can resort to English when the need arises as they are taught in school but not strewn all over their country. Did you mean I was fortunate in not having received more caustic remarks or as you said unfortunate? I suppose my first impression of Canada especially Toronto where we first were was just too big, overbearing to say the least I couldn't handle it and missed home so much.
Germany etc. but even they can resort to English when the need arises as they are taught in school but not strewn all over their country. Did you mean I was fortunate in not having received more caustic remarks or as you said unfortunate? I suppose my first impression of Canada especially Toronto where we first were was just too big, overbearing to say the least I couldn't handle it and missed home so much.
What's your view on Wales peppering ridiculous strings of consonants all over their road signs and requiring English speaking children to learn Welsh, a language with far less international reach that silly old French?
Jul 6th 2014, 9:09 pm
#215
Born again atheist
Joined: Jul 2005
Location: Europe (to be specified).
Posts: 30,259
Re: Differences between Canadian and British people
I'm not annoyed about the people who don't speak English, heaven forbid there are probably enough people in the U.K. who don't either. I have a grievance over this country Canada which peppered French everywhere. Non English speaking immigrants who come here have enough problems learning English which is far more important than learning French don't your think? English is used almost world wide. Unless you live in a country which basically only speak there own language on the whole e.g. France, Spain Italy
Germany etc. but even they can resort to English when the need arises as they are taught in school but not strewn all over their country. Did you mean I was fortunate in not having received more caustic remarks or as you said unfortunate? I suppose my first impression of Canada especially Toronto where we first were was just too big, overbearing to say the least I couldn't handle it and missed home so much.
Germany etc. but even they can resort to English when the need arises as they are taught in school but not strewn all over their country. Did you mean I was fortunate in not having received more caustic remarks or as you said unfortunate? I suppose my first impression of Canada especially Toronto where we first were was just too big, overbearing to say the least I couldn't handle it and missed home so much.
I'm sorry, but I remain to be convinced, after your initial barrage of poorly constructed ranting about official bilingualism and then a foray into bashing metric, that you're not an adolescent student at, shall we say, LSE seeking to mess with peoples heads. In short, a troll.
Another possibility of course is that you're fuchs01's wife cross-bred with dbd33's mother.
Last edited by Novocastrian; Jul 6th 2014 at 9:12 pm.
Jul 6th 2014, 9:12 pm
#216
Yo
Joined: Nov 2012
Location: UK
Posts: 24,474
Re: Differences between Canadian and British people
You claimed upthread to be fluent (hah!) in three languages. Don't you think that's rather an advantage when judged against being unilingual in a unilingual country?
I'm sorry, but I remain to be convinced, after your initial barrage of poorly constructed ranting about official bilingualism and then a foray into bashing metric, that you're not an adolescent student at, shall we say, LSE seeking to mess with peoples heads. In short, a troll.
Another possibility of course is that you're Fuchs001's wife cross-bred with dbd33's mother.
I'm sorry, but I remain to be convinced, after your initial barrage of poorly constructed ranting about official bilingualism and then a foray into bashing metric, that you're not an adolescent student at, shall we say, LSE seeking to mess with peoples heads. In short, a troll.
Another possibility of course is that you're Fuchs001's wife cross-bred with dbd33's mother.
Jul 6th 2014, 9:15 pm
#217
Born again atheist
Joined: Jul 2005
Location: Europe (to be specified).
Posts: 30,259
Jul 6th 2014, 9:45 pm
#218
BE Forum Addict
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 3,363
Re: Differences between Canadian and British people
I'm not annoyed about the people who don't speak English, heaven forbid there are probably enough people in the U.K. who don't either. I have a grievance over this country Canada which peppered French everywhere. Non English speaking immigrants who come here have enough problems learning English which is far more important than learning French don't your think? English is used almost world wide. Unless you live in a country which basically only speak there own language on the whole e.g. France, Spain Italy
Germany etc. but even they can resort to English when the need arises as they are taught in school but not strewn all over their country. Did you mean I was fortunate in not having received more caustic remarks or as you said unfortunate? I suppose my first impression of Canada especially Toronto where we first were was just too big, overbearing to say the least I couldn't handle it and missed home so much.
Germany etc. but even they can resort to English when the need arises as they are taught in school but not strewn all over their country. Did you mean I was fortunate in not having received more caustic remarks or as you said unfortunate? I suppose my first impression of Canada especially Toronto where we first were was just too big, overbearing to say the least I couldn't handle it and missed home so much.
Fundamentally, Canada is a bi-lingual country in which 59% of the population has English as their first language and 23% have French.....The 23% is hardly a small amount.
Is there a reason why people in France, Spain, Italy and Germany should be able to speak English, but English speaking people in Canada (and the UK) should not learn either French, Spanish, Italian or German.?
All the best
Jul 6th 2014, 11:00 pm
#219
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 50
Re: Differences between Canadian and British people
Welsh is quite a complex language and yes, it lacks vowels in may words and is quite difficult to pronounce for outsiders. Although I went to school in Newport Monmouthshire we were never taught Welsh either in primary-junior level or in High School. Monmouthshire is a county on the border of England and Wales and wasn't considered to be one or the other. However, English prevailed. I moved to the county of Glamorganshire which is the home of Cardiff the Capital of Wales. Porthcawl where I lived is a seaside resort and there Welsh is taught in schools but there was no bi-lingualism then. Not until the minority of die-hard Welsh speakers from West Wales started their ranting, but after all, Welsh is the language of the country of Wales so they really had every right to guard their language and heritage. I can read Welsh but for goodness sake don't ask me what I have just read as I took Welsh in school under sufferance. Over the last few years signs have now been erected in both languages but they have not gone as far as the obsessiveness of the French in Canada having it on every item of produce and piece of literature as the Government would not have that. No, Welsh is not spoken outside of Wales but there is actually a commune of Welsh speaking people in Patagonia- Argentina where a crowd of Welsh people went to for a new life in the 1800's when the coalmines were having such a hard time and it appeared Wales was going to be swallowed up by England which would have been a fate worse than death for the Welsh. There has always been animosity between the two countries especially when the Rugby International comes around.lol As for telephones, dial 1 for this and 2 for that there is only one answer - bring back the rotary 'phone.
Jul 6th 2014, 11:30 pm
#220
BE Forum Addict
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 1,348
Re: Differences between Canadian and British people
I believe most British government publications are available in several languages now, including Urdu.
With regard to Canadian pronunciations, we were surprised to work out that Dell-high actually appears as Delhi on the map.
With regard to Canadian pronunciations, we were surprised to work out that Dell-high actually appears as Delhi on the map.
Jul 6th 2014, 11:34 pm
#221
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 50
Re: Differences between Canadian and British people
Oops...meant to say 'fortunate' instead of 'unfortunate'.
Fundamentally, Canada is a bi-lingual country in which 59% of the population has English as their first language and 23% have French.....The 23% is hardly a small amount.
Is there a reason why people in France, Spain, Italy and Germany should be able to speak English, but English speaking people in Canada (and the UK) should not learn either French, Spanish, Italian or German.?
All the best
Fundamentally, Canada is a bi-lingual country in which 59% of the population has English as their first language and 23% have French.....The 23% is hardly a small amount.
Is there a reason why people in France, Spain, Italy and Germany should be able to speak English, but English speaking people in Canada (and the UK) should not learn either French, Spanish, Italian or German.?
All the best
Jul 6th 2014, 11:42 pm
#222
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 50
Re: Differences between Canadian and British people
That is true, one only has to request a publication in a language other than English then that person will be accommodated. Very obliging. With regard to Canadian pronunciations they are sad!
Jul 6th 2014, 11:59 pm
#224
Assimilated Pauper
Joined: Mar 2005
Location: Ontario
Posts: 40,018
Re: Differences between Canadian and British people
and here in Ottawa, they often refer to an east end community in Ottawa as
Glos-ses-ter and that community on the south side of Lake Simcoe as Kes wick and I have also heard Totten ham for the town near Orangeville. As well there is a football team called Full Ham
Glos-ses-ter and that community on the south side of Lake Simcoe as Kes wick and I have also heard Totten ham for the town near Orangeville. As well there is a football team called Full Ham
Jul 7th 2014, 12:02 am
#225
Assimilated Pauper
Joined: Mar 2005
Location: Ontario
Posts: 40,018
Re: Differences between Canadian and British people
I believe Canada went metric because the Canadians thought the US was going to. They're not very worldly, the Canadians.