Speech pattern and typographical variations across Canada - Page 87

Acajack · #**1721** Posted **Mar 16, 2015, 7:09 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by kwoldtimer

A croissant in English is a "crescent roll". Anything else you hear is just bad French!

Thanks for making my life easier guys!

Acajack · #**1722** Posted **Mar 16, 2015, 7:10 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by kwoldtimer

Please do! Actually, I've met a number of world-level personalities and several Canadian Prime Ministers, but the prospect of meeting the Queen is something I would dread. No problem with the rest of that lot, only HER. I will be so sad when she's gone.....

I am a non-monarchist and don't consider her to be "my" queen/monarch at all, but I actually like the Queen quite a bit.

kwoldtimer · #**1723** Posted **Mar 16, 2015, 7:13 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Acajack

I am a non-monarchist and don't consider her to be "my" queen/monarch at all, but I actually like the Queen quite a bit.

I always smile at comments like that. As if we had any choice, or what we "consider" is particularly relevant.

kwoldtimer · #**1724** Posted **Mar 16, 2015, 7:14 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Acajack

Thanks for making my life easier guys!

Don't feel too relieved - it is widely understood that they taste better when you say it in French!

Acajack · #**1725** Posted **Mar 16, 2015, 7:15 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by kwoldtimer

I always smile at comments like that. As if we had any choice, or what we "consider" is particularly relevant.

You sound exactly like the spouse of one of my siblings!

Hey, you can also pass a law saying that the sky is pink if you want, but I'm still gonna see it as blue!

Aylmer · #**1726** Posted **Mar 16, 2015, 7:19 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Acajack

I am a non-monarchist and don't consider her to be "my" queen/monarch at all, but I actually like the Queen quite a bit.

I think most Canadians have no really strong opinions about the monarchy either way, but don't feel like it's really worth the bother to do away with it. In my opinion, it's essentially a matter of aesthetics at this point.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Acajack

I also have a hang-up about saying cruh-ssawnt (croissant) in English. Can't do it either.

I have a hard time pronouncing French words in non-bilingual areas. I was in Washington a few weeks ago and I wanted to order a "Pain aux raisins" and I had no idea how to say it except in French. I eventually settled on "Payne owe ray-zane", which worked, but I had to really think it through

What I love about living in the bilingual belt is that I can just insert French words in my English and no one is phased (and vice-versa in French, but you have to modify your pronunciation a bit for it not to stick out).

kwoldtimer · #**1727** Posted **Mar 16, 2015, 7:21 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aylmer

I think most Canadians have no really strong opinions about the monarchy either way, but don't feel like it's really worth the bother to do away with it. In my opinion, it's essentially a matter of aesthetics at this point.

I have a hard time pronouncing French words in non-bilingual areas. I was in Washington a few weeks ago and I wanted to order a "Pain aux raisins" and I had no idea how to say it except in French. I eventually settled on "Payne owe ray-zane", which worked, but I had to really think it through

What I love about living in the bilingual belt is that I can just insert French words in my English and no one is phased (and vice-versa in French, but you have to modify your pronunciation a bit for it not to stick out).

Now I'm going to have an English voice in my head all day whispering "pain o' raisins"!

ciudad_del_norte · #**1728** Posted **Mar 16, 2015, 7:39 PM**

Ack. Words out of their orignal language context give me anxiety.

In Bolivia I once wanted to order "Pie de Limón." It was a seriously stressful moment for me trying to guess what the best way to say "Pie" was in that context.

kwoldtimer · #**1729** Posted **Mar 16, 2015, 8:14 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ciudad_del_norte

Ack. Words out of their orignal language context give me anxiety.

In Bolivia I once wanted to order "Pie de Limón." It was a seriously stressful moment for me trying to guess what the best way to say "Pie" was in that context.

"Pay"? Tarta? Pastel? Don't leave us hanging!

lio45 · #**1730** Posted **Mar 16, 2015, 8:18 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Acajack

I also have a hang-up about saying cruh-ssawnt (croissant) in English. Can't do it either.

I'm with you, it's really hard to butcher words from one's own language.

Little anecdote from a couple weeks ago... there's this real estate agent in FL (found him by pure chance, he was the listing agent) whose name is Robert Godbout -- obviously Québécois ancestry, though when I questioned him he said Connecticut -- and sometime after our first convo, I ended up calling his office. The name got out of my mouth naturally (pronounced the Québécois way including the first name as it happens to be one of those very common names that are identical in both English and French) and the receptionist did not know who that was. My second attempt ("Bob G.?") worked...

Maybe I'm just hard-headed... but to me croissant is pronounced croissant

esquire · #**1731** Posted **Mar 16, 2015, 8:21 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by lio45

Little anecdote from a couple weeks ago... there's this real estate agent in FL (found him by pure chance, he was the listing agent) whose name is Robert Godbout -- obviously Québécois ancestry, though when I questioned him he said Connecticut -- and sometime after our first convo, I ended up calling his office. The name got out of my mouth naturally (pronounced the Québécois way including the first name as it happens to be one of those very common names that are identical in both English and French) and the receptionist did not know who that was. My second attempt ("Bob G.?") worked...

LOL

"Is that old rascal Bobby God-butt around or is he out at the 19th hole already? HAW HAW HAW"

Try that next time

Nashe · #**1732** Posted **Mar 17, 2015, 1:42 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Acajack

Could be. I hear people say it both ways all the time.
The way I say it is closer to the French pronunciation as well.

My wife (S ON) used to laugh at my pronunciation "gradge" and say that it was "garawge". Now she's starting to say it to, after being here 10 years, haha.

She also calls me on "deead" instead of "dad". It must be subtle, because I don't realize I'm saying it.

1overcosc · #**1733** Posted **Mar 17, 2015, 2:33 PM**

I'm an Eastern Ontarian, lived in the 613 my whole life, and I've always said 'garage' so it rhymes with 'massage'.

RWin · #**1734** Posted **Mar 17, 2015, 7:40 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1overcosc

I'm an Eastern Ontarian, lived in the 613 my whole life, and I've always said 'garage' so it rhymes with 'massage'.

So you either say garage funny or massage funny

Acajack · #**1735** Posted **Mar 17, 2015, 7:43 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by RWin

So you either say garage funny or massage funny

I find it funny how the British say "massage". I am not sure I can even spell it out.

RWin · #**1736** Posted **Mar 17, 2015, 7:47 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Acajack

I find it funny how the British say "massage". I am not sure I can even spell it out.

Speaking of the British, when I hear a British accent, I assume it's someone who has left there and settled here. When I was traveling in the UK, I was asked more than once, "Would you like a VAT receipt."

(along with what part of America are you from).