Speech pattern and typographical variations across Canada

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by vid

Thunder Bayers haven't decided between "root" or "rowt" for the word "route" yet; you hear both equally, and some people switch between the two. "Rowt" seems to be winning, though.

Not sure if it's been mentioned but generally speaking "root" is the traditional/usual Canadian (and also British/Commonwealth) pronunciation I am pretty sure.

"rowt" is American.

In the Ottawa Valley it seems anglophones overwhelmingly say "root".

I wonder if it's one of those British-influenced pronunciations that Canadians have or had, that will go the way of the dodo. Like those for depot, schedule, stupid, etc.

[1overcosc]

I've never heard anyone ever say "rowt" before. It's always "root" to me. I've spent my whole life in Eastern Ontario.

Interesting that its American... to me it sounds connected to that "hoity-toity British" tendency of pronouncing the 'h' in which or whine.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by Acajack

Not sure if it's been mentioned but generally speaking "root" is the traditional/usual Canadian (and also British/Commonwealth) pronunciation I am pretty sure.

"rowt" is American.

I think root predominates in Winnipeg, but yeah, you do hear rowt from time to time.

The funny thing is the street (many Winnipeg streets are also designated with route numbers, but only one, Route 90, is ever actually referred to by it) is always called root 90... I have never once heard someone call it rowt 90. But if you ask for the best way to get out to the lake, someone might tell you a good rowt to take.

[Urbanguy]

^We pronounce route (rowt & root) in the US & the examples that you gave are how we'd use it too. However, because there are so many regional differences in the US there is a possibility of a few places that would pronounce it rowt 90 instead of root 90 but personally, I don't know of anyone that would pronounce it that way.

[lio45]

FWIW, exactly a decade ago, I asked the question to Californians and was told that both pronounciations were correct (rowt and root).

(My question was "which one is the right one, and how come I seem to have both printed in my brain in the category 'stuff that I recall having heard in the past by people speaking proper English'? Please let me know so I can dump the wrong one from memory once and for all." The answer, of course, cleared up both parts of the question.)

I have realized I pronounce it almost as a hybrid of the two, something like roowte...

[rousseau]

Interesting that the singers getting their kicks on Route 66 all pronounce it "root."

[MolsonExport]

As they say in the 7th inning stretch: "Let me root, root-root for the home team..."

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by MolsonExport

As they say in the 7th inning stretch: "Let me root, root-root for the home team..."

Australians always find that quite amusing...

[SignalHillHiker]

It's usually root here I think. But it's not the most common word to use. I'm
Not sure what is... Probably just "way". But I wouldn't use route off SSP.

We use it officially but not in common speech. Provincial highways are are all routes but are usually called Coast, Trail, Run, Loop, or Road.

[kwoldtimer]

"Route" leaves me conflicted (again!). "Root 66" works for me, as would any trail or highway referred to as a "root". On the other hand, I want to say "paper rowt". Then again, I just asked a friend who grew up about 25 miles south of K-W and he said "paper root".

[lio45]

Originally Posted by kwoldtimer

"Route" leaves me conflicted (again!).

FWIW, my gut instinct would be to pronounce it "route" when speaking French and "road" when speaking English.

[SignalHillHiker]

How about poisoned?

Most people here I know say pie instead of poy.

[SignalHillHiker]

And one other. I don't often see this written but it is in the copy (not a quote) if a Telegram story today about seal burger orders surging here is reaction to Don Cherry's comments:

"He was here the weekend..."

Do you ever say/write that or do you use "last weekend" instead?

I say both. Write "last", though, as far as I know.

[kool maudit]

Originally Posted by SignalHillHiker

How about poisoned?

Most people here I know say pie instead of poy.

this is very pirate-ish

(which makes total sense, given that the stereotypical "pirate" accent is a bristol/west country accent...)

[SignalHillHiker]

I don't get the pirate thing from it at all. If I speak in stereotypical, old Newfoundland English - even exaggerated for emphasis - it's very different than if I tried to speak like a pirate.

Even taking a sentence like "Sure all a ye're gonna be poisoned", meaning you'll all be pissed off, pirate and NL are still two completely different ways to say that to me. And I should note it's not wishful thinking from a preference for us not to be considered pirate-y. I really don't mind the comparison at all - I just don't hear it.

[Xelebes]

Pirate speech is largely influenced by the rhotic Bristol accent. Accents influenced by Yola (Wrexham, Newfie) have a very different clip.

[RWin]

This is why no one asks where I'm from when I go to California:

http://theweek.com/articles/453616/difficult-tell-canadian-accent-from-californian

[GlassCity]

Originally Posted by RWin

This is why no one asks where I'm from when I go to California:

http://theweek.com/articles/453616/difficult-tell-canadian-accent-from-californian

Interesting article, I'm especially glad he cleared up the whole "lot" thing.

Nobody I know pronounces Vancouver as Vankewver. It's usually pronounced Vancouver.

I hate how articles like this always portray Canada as the same though. He compares a California accent to a Canadian one-as if there's a single one. This happens outside of language too (the bagged milk stereotype for example: I have never seen it in my life, but because it exists in one part of the country, it must exist everywhere).

[rousseau]

Originally Posted by GlassCity

Nobody I know pronounces Vancouver as Vankewver. It's usually pronounced Vancouver.

It's a distinction between vowel sounds, like in how Americans say avenoo for "avenue," while Canadians say avenyou. For Canadians (and apparently Californians), the middle syllable in "Vancouver" sounds like the vowel in "cool," but for most Americans it sounds more like the vowel in "move."

[Aylmer]

I dunno about that article... I say Van-koo-vr and I've never heard Van-kew-ver in Canada.

I also say bit, not bet for 'a bit'.