Speech pattern and typographical variations across Canada

[esquire]

Eavestroughs is probably the more common word around these parts, although everyone certainly knows what someone saying 'gutters' means.

Chips for French Fries is seldom used here and only in certain contexts, i.e. Fish and Chips, chip truck, etc. It tends to be very old people (80+) who say chips that way, at least in my experience.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by esquire

Eavestroughs is probably the more common word around these parts, although everyone certainly knows what someone saying 'gutters' means.

Chips for French Fries is seldom used here and only in certain contexts, i.e. Fish and Chips, chip truck, etc. It tends to be very old people (80+) who say chips that way, at least in my experience.

Tea towel?

Icing sugar?

[Acajack]

Someone once told me that terms for being drunk like sloshed or pissed were Britishisms.

When Americans say someone is pissed it means they're angry. It's a short form of pissed off.

I think that "pissed" probably can have both meanings in Canada these days.

Also, is "shafting" someone a Britishism? I.e. screwing someone over?

What about "bugger all"? (As in absolutely nothing.)

[Proof Sheet]

Originally Posted by Acajack

Someone once told me that terms for being drunk like sloshed or pissed were Britishisms.

When Americans say someone is pissed it means they're angry. It's a short form of pissed off.

I think that "pissed" probably can have both meanings in Canada these days.

Also, is "shafting" someone a Britishism? I.e. screwing someone over?

What about "bugger all"? (As in absolutely nothing.)

Britishisms

Sloshed, kaylied, pissed all good 'britishisms' for being on the ale (never the lager). Shafting someone is often used there but it can result in double entrandres.

Do you think some of us are from that 'neck of the woods'

I've been told many times despite my accent pretty well gone that people figured out I was from the land of 'Britishisms' based on some of my expressions/terminology and of course the Banter.

https://tenor.com/view/banter-great-alan-partridge-norfolk-radio-gif-8397690

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by Proof Sheet

Britishisms
]

Is there a more appropriate term I should be using?

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by Proof Sheet

https://tenor.com/view/banter-great-alan-partridge-norfolk-radio-gif-8397690

Alan Partridge again!

(I wouldn't know him if it weren't for you.)

[Al Ski]

Originally Posted by Acajack

Someone once told me that terms for being drunk like sloshed or pissed were Britishisms.

When Americans say someone is pissed it means they're angry. It's a short form of pissed off.

I think that "pissed" probably can have both meanings in Canada these days.

Also, is "shafting" someone a Britishism? I.e. screwing someone over?

What about "bugger all"? (As in absolutely nothing.)

I lived in Aussie and Scotland and the shear number of regionalisms is astounding.

You can tell if someone is from Glasgow or Edinburgh and to a lesser degree if someone is from Melbs or Sydney - once you're attuned to the lingo.

Ask Aussies why they stock up on 'Roots' branded products while they're in Canada, they're besides themselves in laughter!

They just can't wait to trot that gear out once they get home!

[Al Ski]

Originally Posted by Acajack

Someone once told me that terms for being drunk like sloshed or pissed were Britishisms.

When Americans say someone is pissed it means they're angry. It's a short form of pissed off.

I think that "pissed" probably can have both meanings in Canada these days.

Also, is "shafting" someone a Britishism? I.e. screwing someone over?

What about "bugger all"? (As in absolutely nothing.)

I use all of these at various times but you have to be nimble - if you get that quizzical look on the face you quickly shift to another term.

I remember one time when I was sitting in a bar in Ontario and some guy was giving me a hard time and I called him a 'goof' and he went mental and a fight ensued. Turns out that 'goof' in Ontario has jail connotations - the guards are 'goofs', ultimate, unintended insult to a former inmate.

Likewise, I was playing cards with my American gf's family in Michigan when her father beat me in a hand and I said "Oscar, you're such an asshole!". The room fell silent and I realized that 'asshole' in that part of Michigan was the ultimate putdown. Who knew?

You have to be very careful when using seemingly 'universal' language.

[rousseau]

Originally Posted by Acajack

OK there is "the dole", trotted out by Ontario Premier Doug Ford this week.

What about "eavestroughs"? Every anglo place I've lived in (Ontario + East) used this term instead of the US term "gutter". What about the West? Or SW Ontario? (A gutter to me is on the side of the road, or on the edges of a bowling lane.)

"Chips" seems to have totally died out for "french fries", though it still lives on when we're talking about a "chip stand" or a "chip wagon". At least in some parts of the country.

It's all eavestroughs around here in Stratford. And "chips" has never been french fries in southern Ontario in my experience, at least since the 1970s. A quirky peculiarity universal to anywhere in the US and anglophone Canada is that the dish at a diner is called fish and chips, but you choose between fries and mash potatoes for the side.

"I'll get the fish and chips with fries" is how you order it if mashed potatoes are an option.

I'm starting to wonder if there aren't more differences between Quebec anglophone English and ROC English than I'd originally thought.

By the way, this from the other thread belongs here:

Originally Posted by rousseau

Ha ha, I noticed that. But I don't get it. Where did a guy like him, Joe Canuck Hockey and Donuts, come up with the word "dole"? Is his wife watching British shows on Netflix?

Didn't someone in the other thread say that people in Canada used to use the word "dole" back in the day? That's really surprising to me. I never heard the word before the poll tax riots in the UK made the news in the late 1980s. I always thought the old Canadian word was "pogey."

[Al Ski]

And Acajack, you'll understand this.

I've reached the point where I can tell jokes and play word games with Québécois with success. I'm very proud of that!

But..

Try that with French from France.. ultimate failure, almost every time!

I try to joke around with them and it results in nothing but confusion..

[Architype]

Originally Posted by rousseau

... used to use the word "dole" back in the day? That's really surprising to me. I never heard the word before the poll tax riots in the UK made the news in the late 1980s. I always thought the old Canadian word was "pogey."

"Dole" is an old English term, so not surprisingly, it was used commonly in NL and probably Atlantic Canada, especially used by my grandparents' generation. I think it's still a common word. Pogey is more general Canadian I think. Oddly, spellcheck does not recognize "pogey", but has no problem with "dole". You have been doled out this information.

[Acajack]

Pogey and the dole are two different things.

Pogey = employment insurance

The dole = welfare

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by rousseau

It's all eavestroughs around here in Stratford. And "chips" has never been french fries in southern Ontario in my experience, at least since the 1970s. A quirky peculiarity universal to anywhere in the US and anglophone Canada is that the dish at a diner is called fish and chips, but you choose between fries and mash potatoes for the side.

"I'll get the fish and chips with fries" is how you order it if mashed potatoes are an option.

I'm starting to wonder if there aren't more differences between Quebec anglophone English and ROC English than I'd originally thought.
"

Quebec English is more American and less British or even less Canadian.

My English is not a good case study for it.

[rousseau]

Originally Posted by Acajack

Pogey and the dole are two different things.

Pogey = employment insurance

The dole = welfare

Oops, you're right.

I've never heard anyone in Canada say "on the dole," but a quick Google search suggests that my impression that it's unknown here might not be accurate.

https://www.google.com/search?q=canada+%...PCAIQ8NMDegQIARBJ&biw=1796&bih=977&dpr=1

[Architype]

Originally Posted by Acajack

Pogey and the dole are two different things.

Pogey = employment insurance

The dole = welfare

Correct, I was probably thinking of them as the same too. They are not. LOL.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by Al Ski

And Acajack, you'll understand this.

I've reached the point where I can tell jokes and play word games with Québécois with success. I'm very proud of that!

But..

Try that with French from France.. ultimate failure, almost every time!

I try to joke around with them and it results in nothing but confusion..

Haha!

I think you might appreciate this:

https://twitter.com/Gaspard_Skoda/status/1450925676039655427/photo/1

[Proof Sheet]

Originally Posted by Acajack

Is there a more appropriate term I should be using?

Hmm...can't think of one..but Britishism just doesn't tick the box. Within the UK there are so many terms for the same thing over a relatively small area. Watch an episode of Coronation Street versus Eastenders (if you can stand either) and you'll hear expressions unique to each yet to drive from the location of each would only take 3 + hours.

Of course, the expressions of a certain late night local radio host from Norwich top them all. (couldn't resist the Alan reference)

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by Proof Sheet

Hmm...can't think of one..but Britishism just doesn't tick the box. Within the UK there are so many terms for the same thing over a relatively small area. Watch an episode of Coronation Street versus Eastenders (if you can stand either) and you'll hear expressions unique to each yet to drive from the location of each would only take 3 + hours.

)

I get it but I do think there is such a thing as British English with terms that are generally used, or at least common and understood across Britain. (And to some degree this extends to places like Australia and New Zealand.)

I mean, if I look at Quebec French it's considered an identifiable and definable thing, even though there are regional expressions within it. I mean, there are things people say in Gatineau that they don't say in Montreal two hours away.

[kwoldtimer]

Originally Posted by Proof Sheet

Hmm...can't think of one..but Britishism just doesn't tick the box. Within the UK there are so many terms for the same thing over a relatively small area. Watch an episode of Coronation Street versus Eastenders (if you can stand either) and you'll hear expressions unique to each yet to drive from the location of each would only take 3 + hours.

Of course, the expressions of a certain late night local radio host from Norwich top them all. (couldn't resist the Alan reference)

Briticism (or Britishism) is correct. If a word is commonly used in other countries, however, I don't know that it really qualifies as a "Briticism".

[Loco101]

Originally Posted by Jimmy Nimby

Francophones resent English but every French Canadian uses at least 2-3 English words in every sentence. Prove me wrong.

Virtually all francophones I know don't resent English.