What language do they speak,it aint English
Sep 24th 2008, 6:42 am
#121
Just Joined
Joined: Jul 2008
Location: Vancouver
Posts: 14
Re: What language do they speak,it aint English
I recall reading an article some time ago that suggested that, in some ways, North American English is truer to 'old-fashioned' English (ie the English in use at the time North America was settled) than modern-day UK English.
The reasoning was that, when the original immigrants to the US first arrived, they of course brought with them the English in use in England at the time (ignoring of course settlers of other nationalities). In the meantime, English in the UK evolved along a slightly different path to English in the US, and in some ways the English that evolved in the US stayed truer to its original source than did our own variant.
Not sure if there's any truth in this, but interesting theory.
The reasoning was that, when the original immigrants to the US first arrived, they of course brought with them the English in use in England at the time (ignoring of course settlers of other nationalities). In the meantime, English in the UK evolved along a slightly different path to English in the US, and in some ways the English that evolved in the US stayed truer to its original source than did our own variant.
Not sure if there's any truth in this, but interesting theory.
Sep 24th 2008, 9:23 am
#122
The Green Engine
Joined: Jan 2004
Location: Vancouver - soon
Posts: 4,400
Re: What language do they speak,it aint English
As you were.
Sep 24th 2008, 11:39 am
#123
Assimilated Pauper
Joined: Mar 2005
Location: Ontario
Posts: 40,018
Re: What language do they speak,it aint English
"Chesterfield" for "sofa" is another ethnicism.
I suggest though that the quintessential Canadian expression is "kilometres", or often "clics", "per tank" as a measure of vehicle fuel consumption. There's currently a car advert on the TV claiming "1000 kilometres per tank" and I often hear it from a spodish local when he enthuses over his diesel Beetle. I don't think this unit of measure is used anywhere else.
I think it's Canadian in that it's vague, tanks vary in size, it indicates confusion, if people knew how many gallons they were buying and how many miles they were driving they could express themselves better, it indicates acquiesence to intrusive government, no one wanted their pumps metricated, and it exists to falsely suggest a differentiation between Canada and the US, the same adverts on other channels claim many mpg for the same car. It's even a bit French and so it offers the whole unhyphenated pschye in one phrase, eh.
I suggest though that the quintessential Canadian expression is "kilometres", or often "clics", "per tank" as a measure of vehicle fuel consumption. There's currently a car advert on the TV claiming "1000 kilometres per tank" and I often hear it from a spodish local when he enthuses over his diesel Beetle. I don't think this unit of measure is used anywhere else.
I think it's Canadian in that it's vague, tanks vary in size, it indicates confusion, if people knew how many gallons they were buying and how many miles they were driving they could express themselves better, it indicates acquiesence to intrusive government, no one wanted their pumps metricated, and it exists to falsely suggest a differentiation between Canada and the US, the same adverts on other channels claim many mpg for the same car. It's even a bit French and so it offers the whole unhyphenated pschye in one phrase, eh.
Sep 24th 2008, 12:56 pm
#124
Canuck/Aussie
Joined: May 2006
Location: BC, Canada
Posts: 4,547
Re: What language do they speak,it aint English
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etmHaeaNsCw
The reference to "the rapist" comes at 1:00 min.
Sep 24th 2008, 1:04 pm
#125
Canuck/Aussie
Joined: May 2006
Location: BC, Canada
Posts: 4,547
Re: What language do they speak,it aint English
I actually need Volunteer Research Participants of all ages, who have been here no more than five years, and if British, need to speak RP or 'Standard English' (South of England) I also need Americans (from Western, Midland, Northern and Central Eastern States of America), NZ'ers (North Island) and South Africans.
Last edited by comet555; Sep 24th 2008 at 1:06 pm.
Sep 24th 2008, 1:43 pm
#126
Born again atheist
Joined: Jul 2005
Location: Europe (to be specified).
Posts: 30,259
Re: What language do they speak,it aint English
"Chesterfield" for "sofa" is another ethnicism.
I suggest though that the quintessential Canadian expression is "kilometres", or often "clics", "per tank" as a measure of vehicle fuel consumption. There's currently a car advert on the TV claiming "1000 kilometres per tank" and I often hear it from a spodish local when he enthuses over his diesel Beetle. I don't think this unit of measure is used anywhere else.
I think it's Canadian in that it's vague, tanks vary in size, it indicates confusion, if people knew how many gallons they were buying and how many miles they were driving they could express themselves better, it indicates acquiesence to intrusive government, no one wanted their pumps metricated, and it exists to falsely suggest a differentiation between Canada and the US, the same adverts on other channels claim many mpg for the same car. It's even a bit French and so it offers the whole unhyphenated pschye in one phrase, eh.
I suggest though that the quintessential Canadian expression is "kilometres", or often "clics", "per tank" as a measure of vehicle fuel consumption. There's currently a car advert on the TV claiming "1000 kilometres per tank" and I often hear it from a spodish local when he enthuses over his diesel Beetle. I don't think this unit of measure is used anywhere else.
I think it's Canadian in that it's vague, tanks vary in size, it indicates confusion, if people knew how many gallons they were buying and how many miles they were driving they could express themselves better, it indicates acquiesence to intrusive government, no one wanted their pumps metricated, and it exists to falsely suggest a differentiation between Canada and the US, the same adverts on other channels claim many mpg for the same car. It's even a bit French and so it offers the whole unhyphenated pschye in one phrase, eh.
dbd33: as an IT jockey you've probably come across the Furlong/Firkin/Fortnight system of units before? I hadn't, so when I read this...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FFF_System
...I immediately thought you'd like it.
Sep 24th 2008, 3:31 pm
#127
Assimilated Pauper
Joined: Mar 2005
Location: Ontario
Posts: 40,018
Re: What language do they speak,it aint English
dbd33: as an IT jockey you've probably come across the Furlong/Firkin/Fortnight system of units before? I hadn't, so when I read this...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FFF_System
...I immediately thought you'd like it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FFF_System
...I immediately thought you'd like it.
