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Canuckian pronunciations

Discussion in 'Fred's House of Pancakes' started by hyo silver, Oct 13, 2010.

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  1. hyo silver

    hyo silver Awaaaaay

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    On my recent foray South, people asked me to repeat several words, just so they could hear my apparent accent. I'm told Canadians speak in short, clipped sounds, and from my perspective, Americans in general tend to add more sounds to a word than there are letters. I also had a bit of confusion at times, especially at the gas station (more on that later) when 'cay-ash' was refused and I was asked to enter my 'zeeeep cod'. I had precious few opportunities to use any French, but some Spanish lessons would have helped. With some interpretive assistance from my travelling companions, we got things straightened out. Plus, it's more than five digits, anyway.

    One of my realisations is that there seems to be some confusion about the number of syllables in certain common words. The word 'out', for instance, has only one, but is apparently said with at least two everywhere South of the 49th. I never did master the correct pronunciation, but came close enough that I will be subject to cultural retraining now that I'm home.

    The aforementioned 'gas station' was the most curious. I'm used to 'gas' being one syllable, but to my ears down there, it sounds more like 'gay nice person'. As in, "Honey, we need to stop to pickup some gay nice person." I don't know about you, but my mind has to censor at least the first three thoughts before moving my lips. In this case, thoughts like 'Oh, I love it when you talk dirty', 'Hot day-am, I looove these kinda weekends' and 'I don't wanna know where you swipe your credit card'

    Mostly I just smile and nod politely. Life is safer that way. Those Canadians are just so nice, aren't they? :D
     
    #1 hyo silver, Oct 13, 2010
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  2. jayman

    jayman Senior Member

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    Speaking of funny accents, you ever tour the Atlantic Provinces?
     
    #2 jayman, Oct 13, 2010
  3. priuscritter

    priuscritter I am the Stig.

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    i think the canadian accent drops all the way down to wisconsin because those folks i can't hardly understand either.
     
    #3 priuscritter, Oct 13, 2010
  4. hyo silver

    hyo silver Awaaaaay

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    Not yet. Barely East of Tronna, so far. Known a few exports, though. I's the bye that builts the boat, and I's the bye that sailzer. ;)
     
    #4 hyo silver, Oct 13, 2010
  5. qbee42

    qbee42 My other car is a boat

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    Don't make the mistake of assuming all parts of the U.S. speak the same way. Because of my Northern Michigan accent, people in Ohio think I'm Canadian. A Southern Michigan accent sounds pretty vanilla to most in the U.S. because it is used as the standard newscaster accent. Unless they are portraying a character, actors on TV tend to use a standard Midwest accent, which is what you find in Southern Michigan.

    I can barely communicate in the deep south. They might as well be speaking a different language. I like New England accents. They are very short and clipped, with many dropped "R"s.

    Tom
     
    #5 qbee42, Oct 13, 2010
  6. MarinJohn

    MarinJohn Senior Member

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    Poor Bruce, I hope your foray into the southland didn't scar you for life. Things aren't so cut and dry here in the US as in Canada. At least you didn't call it 'Frisco'. I hope you have recovered from your adventures, ego mostly intact! We here 'south of the border' surely enjoyed your charming presence. Y'all come back soon.
     
    #6 MarinJohn, Oct 13, 2010
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  7. GrumpyCabbie

    GrumpyCabbie Senior Member

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    This thread is interesting. You guys all sound the same to me. I've got to be soo careful if I have an American or Canadian in the cab and I ask where they're from.

    I usually err on the side of caution and ask if they're Canadian as an American wouldn't mind my mistake and would happily correct me, whereas a Canadian would not be impressed to have been called an American! I've learnt this the hard way. :eek:
     
    #7 GrumpyCabbie, Oct 13, 2010
  8. qbee42

    qbee42 My other car is a boat

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    Good point. The Canucks are pretty stuck-up bunch.

    :p

    Tom
     
    #8 qbee42, Oct 13, 2010
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  9. xs650

    xs650 Senior Member

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    But they are nice, and you don't even have to observe them to learn that because they will tell you how nice they are at every opportunity.:D
     
    #9 xs650, Oct 13, 2010
  10. eagle33199

    eagle33199 Platinum Member

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    Just how far south did you go? I think all would recognize there's a bit of difference between, for example, Ohio and Mississippi. And of course, up here in Minnesota, we've got no problem understanding you poor, misguided Canucks :p
     
    #10 eagle33199, Oct 13, 2010
  11. hyo silver

    hyo silver Awaaaaay

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    Yes, I know. Most of my US holidays have been down the West coast, and even within that area there are variations. Tayicksins don't speak English at all, I quite agree. ;)

    Thank you, my friend. I was delighted to see you again. The sailing was absolutely fabulous, and my ego was pleased to have made great progress with the 'driving', as F8L calls it. I'll have to work on the knots, and not rely so much on digital clocks. :rolleyes:
     
    #11 hyo silver, Oct 13, 2010
  12. Stev0

    Stev0 Honorary Hong Kong Cavalier

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    I'm a New Englander, and sometimes I have trouble understanding Southeners (and vice-versa). Of course, I'm from Western Massachusetts, so I have trouble understanding Bostonians even more.
     
    #12 Stev0, Oct 13, 2010
  13. jayman

    jayman Senior Member

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    True dat
     
    #13 jayman, Oct 13, 2010
  14. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    lol... Speaking of accents...
     
    #14 Tideland Prius, Oct 13, 2010
  15. priuscritter

    priuscritter I am the Stig.

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    i must say the ontario people i have met were very nice. i spent a week there with a finish up in toronto, and everyone knew i was an American from my accent, and they were all very nice to me. it might have something to do with the fact that the US dollar was worth more than the Canadian dollar at the time, but I'd prefer to think they were just friendly people.
     
    #15 priuscritter, Oct 13, 2010
  16. Rae Vynn

    Rae Vynn Artist In Residence

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    ...your traveling companion would have had a more enjoyable trip if you would have left that filter OFF your mouth, and thrown out a few more of those snide remarks... ;)

    You just talk prettier, is all :p
     
    #16 Rae Vynn, Oct 13, 2010
  17. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

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    Considering I am used to riding around in a 225HP Ranger bass boat that doesn't know how to go below 70mph through the delta, I consider it more driving than sailing. :p
     
    #17 F8L, Oct 13, 2010
  18. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

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    Those missing 'R's ain't wasted, they've been adopted by a couple other accents. Some Eastern mediar folk can't talk about Canadar, Alaskar, or Russiar without more of that letter. And some inland Western folk ambushed a Alpha Romero passing through their corner of Praradise to get more 'R's to warsh into their language.
     
    #18 fuzzy1, Oct 13, 2010
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  19. Politburo

    Politburo Active Member

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    #19 Politburo, Oct 14, 2010
  20. hyo silver

    hyo silver Awaaaaay

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    But close enough, and quite interesting. Thanks.
     
    #20 hyo silver, Oct 14, 2010
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