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Re: Differences between Canadian and British people
Originally Posted by caretaker
(Post 11322023)
The difference that is most obvious is that British people talk funny. I've just had Eastenders on and it's hard to understand parts. Some Newfoundlanders are just as bad, of course and I've heard Americans say that Canadians say 'oot' instead of out. I've never noticed that (we don't do it in Sask), so could that be an Ontario thing? Anyone? Over the last 20 years or so various corporations moved their call centres to Regina because we have a neutral accent that's easy for most English speakers to understand. At least half of those packed up due to the economy though.
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Re: Differences between Canadian and British people
Originally Posted by Teaandtoday5
(Post 11322065)
Never noticed but 10 years near Aberdeen May have made me immune to oot |
Re: Differences between Canadian and British people
Originally Posted by tweed_wearer
(Post 11321746)
I mentioned that some things are a lot cheaper in England, such as a lot of groceries,
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Re: Differences between Canadian and British people
Originally Posted by Steve_
(Post 11322977)
Plus you were wrong, as pointed out in the price comparison thread. Only a handful of things are cheaper and only a tiny number of things are significantly cheaper. Mainly bread.
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Re: Differences between Canadian and British people
Originally Posted by Steve_
(Post 11322977)
Plus you were wrong, as pointed out in the price comparison thread. Only a handful of things are cheaper and only a tiny number of things are significantly cheaper. Mainly bread.
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Re: Differences between Canadian and British people
British people include English, Scottish (for now), Irish, and Welsh, all of whom tend to have different national characteristics such as assuming that everybody can/should speak English, waving claymores and hoarding bawbees, drinking Guinness, and singing in choirs while digging up coal in green valleys. By the same token, it's impossible to say that Canadians are a homogeneous amalgam of all of the above plus just about every other nationality in the world. However, there are some kinds of behaviour that seem to be fairly prevalent in Canada such as failing to complain when this action is clearly justified, e.g. when service is sloppy, food is poor, or even when there's an automatic 30% tip added to the bill. Yes,while returning inedible food to the service counter, I have observed Canadians stoically chewing away at burnt chips, lukewarm fish, and buns better used as hockey pucks. Canadians also fail to back up a Brit when she/he does complain about things such as people talking on cell phones in theatres, vandalizing public property or stealing from stores. The general attitude seems to be "that's life, just put up with it". Underplaying everything is also commonplace - the pervasive "little bit" applies to anything, e.g. your car repair is a "little bit more" than you expected (like $800 instead of the $250 estimated but as a true Canadian you meekly pay up) or you tell your doctor you feel a "little better" when in fact not only are your arthritic knees completely seized up but the medication he prescribed has caused hair to sprout all over your back and your eyeballs to turn khaki.
On a positive note, however, when anyone does stand up for his/her rights, the shock is such the recipients of the compliant scramble madly to appease (except the BC government vs teachers). One does not, of course, do this in order to get free meals, gift certificates, and profuse apologies but simply because it is the right, albeit non-Canadian, thing to do. |
Re: Differences between Canadian and British people
Originally Posted by Steve_
(Post 11322977)
Plus you were wrong, as pointed out in the price comparison thread. Only a handful of things are cheaper and only a tiny number of things are significantly cheaper. Mainly bread.
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Re: Differences between Canadian and British people
Originally Posted by christmasoompa
(Post 11323422)
I think you must have been reading a different thread Steve. ;):lol:
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Re: Differences between Canadian and British people
Originally Posted by leith
(Post 11323407)
British people include English, Scottish (for now), Irish, and Welsh, all of whom tend to have different national characteristics such as assuming that everybody can/should speak English, waving claymores and hoarding bawbees, drinking Guinness, and singing in choirs while digging up coal in green valleys. By the same token, it's impossible to say that Canadians are a homogeneous amalgam of all of the above plus just about every other nationality in the world. However, there are some kinds of behaviour that seem to be fairly prevalent in Canada such as failing to complain when this action is clearly justified, e.g. when service is sloppy, food is poor, or even when there's an automatic 30% tip added to the bill. Yes,while returning inedible food to the service counter, I have observed Canadians stoically chewing away at burnt chips, lukewarm fish, and buns better used as hockey pucks. Canadians also fail to back up a Brit when she/he does complain about things such as people talking on cell phones in theatres, vandalizing public property or stealing from stores. The general attitude seems to be "that's life, just put up with it". Underplaying everything is also commonplace - the pervasive "little bit" applies to anything, e.g. your car repair is a "little bit more" than you expected (like $800 instead of the $250 estimated but as a true Canadian you meekly pay up) or you tell your doctor you feel a "little better" when in fact not only are your arthritic knees completely seized up but the medication he prescribed has caused hair to sprout all over your back and your eyeballs to turn khaki.
On a positive note, however, when anyone does stand up for his/her rights, the shock is such the recipients of the compliant scramble madly to appease (except the BC government vs teachers). One does not, of course, do this in order to get free meals, gift certificates, and profuse apologies but simply because it is the right, albeit non-Canadian, thing to do. |
Re: Differences between Canadian and British people
Originally Posted by Shard
(Post 11323533)
An odd perception. I have found Canadians far more ready to complain and assert their opinions on food or service than people in Britain. Tips, yes, different cultural norms as we all know. "Little bit/better"...not sure. Maybe the entire paragraph is some attempt at humour, if it is, you might get a laugh out of some Canadians.
It took me years to lose my Brit reticence and learn to complain like a North American when I get bad service/food. |
Re: Differences between Canadian and British people
Originally Posted by caretaker
(Post 11322023)
The difference that is most obvious is that British people talk funny. I've just had Eastenders on and it's hard to understand parts. Some Newfoundlanders are just as bad, of course and I've heard Americans say that Canadians say 'oot' instead of out. I've never noticed that (we don't do it in Sask), so could that be an Ontario thing? Anyone? Over the last 20 years or so various corporations moved their call centres to Regina because we have a neutral accent that's easy for most English speakers to understand. At least half of those packed up due to the economy though.
Maybe your ear has become attuned to it so much you don't really notice? I know after 7 + years in Australia I didn't notice their accent at all anymore (although funnily enough the New Zealand Accent is to the Aussies the equivalent of the American vs Canadian with the distended vowels so I totally noticed that). After a year over here I hear an Aussie now and can't believe how strong and grating it is.:eek: As for the British talking funny - well that depends on what area you are talking about, us scots spik proper ken? ;) |
Re: Differences between Canadian and British people
Originally Posted by scotdownunder
(Post 11324058)
I have most definitely noticed the difference in the vowels over here - one of the easiest ways to discriminate between an American accent and a Canadian one IMO. And I have heard people form SK doing it too.:confused:
Maybe your ear has become attuned to it so much you don't really notice? I know after 7 + years in Australia I didn't notice their accent at all anymore (although funnily enough the New Zealand Accent is to the Aussies the equivalent of the American vs Canadian with the distended vowels so I totally noticed that). After a year over here I hear an Aussie now and can't believe how strong and grating it is.:eek: As for the British talking funny - well that depends on what area you are talking about, us scots spik proper ken? ;) |
Re: Differences between Canadian and British people
Originally Posted by Shard
(Post 11324071)
Have you gone from Canada to New Zealand?
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Re: Differences between Canadian and British people
Originally Posted by scotdownunder
(Post 11324091)
Nope, went Scotland to Australia to Canada. Never lived in New Zealand but obviously a lot of them living in Australia.
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Re: Differences between Canadian and British people
Originally Posted by Shard
(Post 11324106)
Ah yes. Must have misread the first time. So are you saying the American vowels are elongated compared to Canada?
Wonder if it is possibly a bit of the Scottish ancestry hanging around. Certainly the phrase Oot and aboot is the same in northern Scotland as I have heard it here. |
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