Peggy Nash says Canada not 'normal' under Harper

[blackrock13]

They have unique accents in their spoken English and have some amusing words they have added. However, generally, their formal written English is UK English. My understanding is that many linguists would argue that UK English, American English and Canadian English are the distinct forms of English with most other English speaking countries speaking UK English.

Personally, I have often wondered how they would classify some Jamaican English as it really does not seem like any other English to me. However, having lived in NZ and having spent a few months in England, I have to agree with them that NZ English is pretty much UK English with some amusing terms added.

Much of what you say is true. As to where the line can be drawn above which the numbers of words are such that the language becomes unique, is something I can't peg, but your professional linguist/etymologists might. Your comments about NZ is very true. My time spent in Tasmania taught me that they can come across more British than most of Britain, even to the point of playing Royal Tennis at the Club as we curling. Even in England literally from valley to valley, a few miles a part, there are definite differences, largely based on whether the area was predominantly settled by Roman, Angles, Saxon, Norman or Celts back in the day.

 

[someone]

My time spent in Tasmania taught me that they can come across more British than most of Britain, ...

In NZ, they still use the word "papers" for university courses. It has been so long since the UK did that that many UK academics are unware they they are the origin for the term papers. An American I worked with done there joked that the British colonial office must have forgotten to send them the memo when they stopped using the term .

 

[blackrock13]

In NZ, they still use the word "papers" for university courses. It has been so long since the UK did that that many UK academics are unware they they are the origin for the term papers. An American I worked with done there joked that the British colonial office must have forgotten to send them the memo when they stopped using the term .

lol. My first thought was for Zig Zag, but hey.

 

[shakenbake]

lol. My first thought was for Zig Zag, but hey.

JB and RizLa are better!

 

[K Douglas]

Peggy Nash isn't normal.