In Canada, why does this small place dare to compete with hundreds of millions of English speakers?

Is there such a thing as Canadian English? If so, what is it?

Does Canadian English also exist? If it exists, so what?

The standard stereotype of Americans is that Canadians are the same as Americans, except that they often say "er" and read "out and about" as "out and about". On the other hand, many Canadians will tell you that Canadian English is more like British English. As evidence, they will emphasize the spelling color and center of the letter Z and the name of zed.

According to American standards, Canadians are no different from Americans, except that the former likes to say "eh" and "out and about" as "out and about". Many Canadians can speak Canadian English more like British English. The evidence is that they still insist on the spelling of color and center, and zed replaces the letter Z.

Canadian is indeed an independent variety of English, with subtle differences in pronunciation and vocabulary. It has its own dictionary; Canadian publishing houses have their own style guides; The Canadian Editors Association has just released the second edition of Editing Canadian English. But a typical feature of editing Canadian English is the comparison table of American spelling and British spelling, so that Canadian editors can make reasonable decisions in each case. The core of Canadian English is a universal ambivalence.

Canadian English does exist as a variant of English, and there are subtle differences between them, which are reflected in pronunciation and vocabulary. Canadian English has its own dictionary; Gatone has its own style guide; The Canadian Editors Association has just published the second edition of Canadian English Editors. However, its iconic feature is that there is a comparison table between American English and British English in the book, so that Canadian editors can reasonably decide which spelling to use under what circumstances. The key to Canadian English is that it is full of contradictions.

The history of Canada helps to explain this. At first, there were indigenous peoples whose languages and cultures were far richer than those in Europe. They are still there, but Canadian English, like the general English-speaking Canadian society, only gives them a casual symbolic nod. The struggle between European colonists had a greater influence on Canadian English. The French colonized the St. Lawrence River area and the Atlantic coast south of it from 1600. In the middle of A.D. 1700, Britain went to war with France and signed the Paris Treaty in A.D. 1763, ceding "New France" to Britain. The British allow any Frenchman who wants to be a subject of the British king to stay.

The history of Canada helps to explain this contradiction. At first, there were aborigines with different languages and cultures, and the number far exceeded that of Europe. They are still there, but Canadian English, just like the Canadian English Association, is just a recognition of them. The formation of Canadian English is also attributed to the struggle between European colonists. /kloc-in the 0 th and 7 th centuries, the French began to colonize the St. Lawrence River area and its South Atlantic coast. /kloc-In the middle of the 8th century, Britain went to war with France. 1763 ended the war and signed the Peace Treaty of Paris (1763), stipulating that "New France" was ceded to Britain. As long as the French are willing to submit to the king of England, Britain allows them to stay.

However, when the Paris Treaty was signed, there were few English speakers in Canada. The American revolution changed this. The English-speaking founders of Canada were loyalists of the United Kingdom-people who fled American independence and gained Canadian land. Therefore, Canadian English was American from the beginning-because its users came from American colonies-not American, because they rejected this newly independent country.

However, when the Paris Peace Treaty was evaluated, almost no one in Canada spoke English. The American revolution changed all this. People who began to speak English in Canada were loyal subjects of the unified empire-these people fled the United States and accepted land gifts in Canada. Therefore, from the beginning, Canadian English can be divided into American flavor and non-American flavor. The former is because all English speakers are American colonists, and the latter is to exclude the newly independent country of the United States.

Loyal to the royal family

Just as Americans seek a truly unique and independent version of American English, loyalists seek to remain more like England … to some extent. The English varieties of these people are different from those of the British, and vice versa: when residents in London and its surrounding areas began to give up their R sounds and change some of their vowels, people in some parts of the United States adopted some of these changes, but Canadians did not.

Loyal to the royal family

Just as Americans pursue a truly unique and independent American English, anti-independence advocates insist on retaining more British flavor. Their English has been divorced from British English, and vice versa: people living in London and its parishes began to throw away the "R" and change vowels. People in some parts of the United States have adopted some changes, but Canadians have not changed.

In the end, more British people poured into Canada, which had an impact on Canada. After the 18 12 war, English mothers encouraged immigrants to Canada to ensure that loyalty prevailed. Although English teachers and authorities have left their marks on spelling and grammar, this accent has not become a British accent. Canadians are indeed subjects of the Queen, but they are also neighbors of the United States-and the largest trading partner. British people may be family members, but Americans are friends. Or sometimes "friends and enemies."

The influx of more British people and its influence can be ended. 18 12 after the war, Britain, the mother country, encouraged people to immigrate to Canada to ensure their loyalty. Although primary and secondary school teachers and experts from Britain marked spelling and grammar, they could not change their accents into British accents. Canadians are still subjects of the Queen of England, but they also have their own neighbors-the United States, the largest trading partner. British people can be counted as family members, while Americans are friends, or sometimes they can be counted as "friends and enemies".

In most parts of continental Europe, there is little difference in Canadian English. It was not until the late1800s that Europeans settled in western Canada. At that time, British Canadians from Ontario and immigrants from Britain and some other countries (for example, Ukraine, where immigrants began to arrive in Canada in 189 1 year) received land awards. The differences among the provinces along the Atlantic Ocean are even greater, especially Newfoundland, where English-speaking Irish people settled, and it was not until 1949 that it officially became a province of Canada.

Canadian English has not changed much in most parts of North America. It was not until the19th century that Europeans settled in western Canada. At that time, land incentive policies were implemented for immigrants from Ontario, Britain and other countries (such as Ukraine, 189 1 arrival in Canada). There are still many differences between the Atlantic coastal provinces, especially Newfoundland, which was originally the settlement of Irish English speakers, and did not become a province of Canada until 1949.

Today, one fifth of Canadians are not native speakers of English or French, almost as many as French speakers. However, the basic features of Canadian English still look like a pro-British American family, some things from other cultures are mainly in the kitchen, some traces of indigenous culture that used to be the only inhabitants, and some influences from French roommates.

Today, one fifth of Canadians do not speak English or French as their mother tongue, which is close to that of French speakers. However, a basic feature of Canadian English still appears in British and American families. The subtle differences of other cultures in these families are mainly reflected in the kitchen, with some traces of indigenous culture, which originally belonged to the owner of the house, and some were influenced by French roommates.

Oot and aboot

As mentioned earlier, Canadian spelling is a tug-of-war between the British and Americans-imprisonment but concentration, analysis but color. Because Canada is a bilingual country, French may also have an impact. For example, many signs, labels and organization names are in French and English. If you can press one word as dual service, it will be easier: shopping center.

As mentioned above, additional spelling is a tug-of-war between British English and American English. Prison is American spelling, while the center is British spelling. Analyze is American spelling, but colour is British spelling. As Canada is a bilingual country, Canadian English is also influenced by French. For example, many signs and labels and the names of institutions are spelled in French and English, and you can easily get bilingual services by typing a word: Shopping Centre d'Achats is bilingual.

Most Canadians will tell you that they don't say "uh" very much.

Most Canadians will tell you that they don't always say "ah, ah".

Eh in Canada may also be influenced by French. French Canadians use hein (also known as spoken han) in similar places as British Canadians use eh, and they use it more. Eh in Canadian English was not invented by Canadians; It is used in England and other places, but it has many different uses in Canada, especially as a way to emphasize and maintain dialogue participation: no kidding, um; Thank you, er; I was on my way to the store when, uh, this guy stopped me. However, the fact is that most Canadians will tell you that they don't say "er" very much, which is more related to people with lower education level.

French may also be influenced by "eh (ah)" in the Canadian population. French Canadians use hein (spoken spelling is han), while British Canadians use "eh" on the same occasion, and the frequency of use is higher. Eh in Canadian English was not invented by Canadians; This word is used in Britain or other places, but it is used in different ways in Canada, especially as an emphasis, indicating that it is participating in the discussion: no kidding, thank you; Then I'm going to the store, but the guy just won't let me go. However, the fact is that most Canadians will tell you that they don't always say "ah", and this word is more associated with uneducated words.

Canadian accent-or accent, because there is a little difference across the country (Newfoundland province is more different) and there is a bigger difference between different social and economic levels-has some iconic features, which can also be traced back to the United States and Britain. The most famous feature is "Canadian enhancement", which affects two specific diphthongs before unvoiced consonants: the first part of diphthongs is higher in ice and out than in eyes and Lou D. The improvement of out makes vowels sound more like American "oot" This feature exists in most parts of Canada, but not all. It may be influenced by Scottish English (many British immigrants are Scots), or it may be a relic of the pronunciation of Shakespeare's time.

This Canadian accent-Canadian accent-has a large number of variations in various places (especially Newfoundland) and various socio-economic levels, so it also has several iconic features. So the formation of this accent can be traced back to the United States and Britain in part. The most obvious feature is "additive rising tone". Before voiced consonants appeared in diphthongs, every vowel in diphthongs was affected: the first vowel of diphthongs in ice[ais] and out[aut] was higher than that of eyes[aiz] and loud[laud]. The rising tone of in Out makes Americans sound like "oot". Although this feature is not found in all of Canada, it is found in most areas at least. This may be influenced by Scottish English (many British immigrants are Scots), or it may be a relic of Shakespeare's pronunciation.

Another feature is the combination of waist and back, which makes caught and cot sound the same. Then there is the so-called "Canadian vowel transfer". bit sounds a bit like bet, bet sounds a bit like bat, and bat speaks a little further back. This transformation is still in progress. These changes seem to have originated in Canada, although similar patterns can be seen in some parts of the United States.

Another feature is "low mixed vowels", which makes caution and cot sound the same. This phenomenon is called "Canadian vowel transfer", so bit sounds a bit like bet, and bet sounds a bit like bat. It is said that bat is pronounced later in the mouth. This forward movement continues. These changes seem to have originated in Canada, although the same pronunciation pattern can be heard in some parts of the United States.

Happy' May 2nd Thursday weekend'!

Apart from these details, Canadians sound more like Americans, especially depending on where Americans come from. This is why citizens of every country may be caught off guard by unexpected differences in vocabulary. There are many. Katherine Barber, former editor-in-chief of the Oxford Dictionary of Canada, collected many iconic Canadian languages in her book Only in Canada (You Say).

Happy 5.24 Weekend!

Apart from the differences in the above details, Canadians have a tendency to sound like Americans, especially those from the United States. This is why citizens of every country may be caught off guard by the unexpected differences scattered in vocabulary, and there are many more. Catherine Barber, the former editor-in-chief of the Oxford Dictionary of Canada, has collected many distinctive Canadian English words in her book The Collection of Canadian Languages.

Sometimes Canadians use the same words as Americans in different ways: in Canada, if you write a test, you are the testee, while in the United States you are the testee. Sometimes Canadians use different words for the same thing: garbage disposal plant stands for kitchen disposal, single apartment stands for studio apartment, sports shoes or running shoes stand for runner, and 24 bottles or 24 cans of beer stand for two-four (Victoria Day, a unique Canadian holiday, happened on a Monday near May 24th, so it is called "May 24th weekend").

Sometimes, the words used in Canadian English are in another way: in Canada, if you say you are writing a test, it means you are taking the test, but in the United States, it means you are writing a paper. Sometimes, the same thing in Canadian English is expressed in different words: garburator refers to kitchen treatment, bachelor apartment refers to bachelor apartment, runner refers to sports shoes or running shoes. Twenty-four refers to a case of 24 bottles of beer (Victoria Day, a unique festival in Canada, refers to Monday on May 24th, so it is called "5.24 weekend" for short). )

Some words refer to something that Americans don't seem to have: a fitted knitted hat without a brim; Poutine, Nanaimo Bar and Butter Tart are three great Canadian cooking gifts to the world, if the world will accept them; Caesar ordered a bloody Mary made of clam juice (tomatoes and clams). Of course, there are also hockey metaphors, such as kicking someone out and dealing with problems with sticks. Occasionally, I borrow Quebec French (which is unrecognizable in France), such as the aforementioned poutine and dépanneur of convenience stores.

Some words know what America doesn't seem to have, such as toque refers to knitting hats; Poutine (potato chips), Nanaimo bars (nanaimo dessert) and butter tart, these three desserts, if accepted by the world, can be regarded as Canada's three major kitchen gifts to the world. Caesar refers to bloody Mary, which is made of tomato juice (tomato+clam meat). Of course, there are also some metaphors from hockey, such as knocking someone down and dealing with problems with sticks. Some occasionally borrow French from Quebec (which is not available in France), such as the aforementioned poutine and dépanneur (that is, convenience stores).

These Canadians are evidence of cultural differences between Canada and the United States. It is very important for Canadians to keep this difference, even though Vancouver people sound more like San Francisco people than San Francisco people sound like San Antonio people. Although English-speaking Canadians are still loyal to the Queen, they are not really interested in being British or sounding British; They are only interested in using British relations to maintain their independence from the independent United States. They leave the United States because they don't want to leave. It is indeed a contradictory situation.

These Canadian English words are living evidence of the cultural differences between Canada and the United States. It is very important for Canadians to keep this cultural difference. People from Vancouver and San Francisco have similar accents, and people from San Francisco and people from San Antonio have similar accents. Even so, the former is more similar than the latter. Although English-speaking Canadians remain loyal to the Queen of England, they are not interested in being British or sounding British. They are only interested in using British English to express their independence from the independent United States, and they leave not because they really want to leave. This is indeed a contradictory mood.

I hope I can help you, and I hope to adopt it!