Aboot Canadians?

[The Game 06]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Cmp4kO1pP4



There is alot of beef between Americans and Canadians.

What's up with them saying Canadians say Aboot and Eh?

Okay I gotta admit alot of us do say "Eh", but it's not in every sentence.
I've neva heard anybody in my school or any one else in Toronto say "Aboot".

I've neva heard any of my black homies say "Aboot".

And Toronto has alot of immigrants and I'm 100% sure u will neva hear a new immigrant from China saying "Aboot"

Maybe the french-canadians who r bilangual a.k.a. Montereal say it.

I neva been to da East-Side aka Newfoundland/ Nova Scotia, but I think they speak almost the same as us.

Please clarify this "Aboot" thing.

btw, I love South Park. No h8.

 

[High_Roller]

1. You Can't Do That on Television on Nickolodeon
2. Strange Brew
3. Canadian Bacon

 

[MarkII]

Across the US there are about 17 words that are pronounced differently.

We cannot hear the difference they hear with the word about. it's the "out" portion they hear...they say it more like abawt..subtle difference but it's there.

In many areas of the use a roof...is not Rew-oof as we say..but a ruff. (okay my phenetics may not be up to snuff)

There are thousands of local idioms..but most of the time it's the nasty 17 words that give us away. I deal with US clients every day...and I've pretty much mastered the difference so they cannot tell. But every once in a while they pick off a word and say CANADIAN!..and I say YES..proudly!

M2

 

[Dong Joe]

I notice that the only real difference is the 'ou' sound in 'out'.

Americans say 'out' the way Candadians would say 'ow, that hurt'.

So it would be 'owt' in yankeespeak.

 

[Don]

I neva been to da East-Side aka Newfoundland/ Nova Scotia, but I think they speak almost the same as us.

Please clarify this "Aboot" thing.

It is a east coast thing. I know a few newfies and they say "aboot" in addition to a whole host of other things. Some newfie accents are so strong that I have a hard time understanding them if they speak too quickly.

Whatever. It is a play on a certain group in Canada that the US doesn't have. Similar to how Canada plays up America as a land of guns, bbq, football and people saying "Y'all" (Southerners).

 

[johnnywest]

You're wrong about the Maritimes

originally posted by The Game O6
I neva been to da East-Side aka Newfoundland/ Nova Scotia, but I think they speak almost the same as us.


Sorry 'The Game O6', I lived in the Maritimes for over 8 years and have also lived in Montreal,Vancouver and now Toronto. The Maritimers speak and sound differently from the rest of the East, Prairies and West Coast.

 

[bestillmehard]

tom"eh"to....tomato....LOL

 

[Hockey_MLnut]

originally posted by The Game O6
I neva been to da East-Side aka Newfoundland/ Nova Scotia, but I think they speak almost the same as us.


Sorry 'The Game O6', I lived in the Maritimes for over 8 years and have also lived in Montreal,Vancouver and now Toronto. The Maritimers speak and sound differently from the rest of the East, Prairies and West Coast.

This is true they do pronounce words differently in the maritimes than the rest of the country.

 

[goodtime]

It is a east coast thing. I know a few newfies and they say "aboot" in addition to a whole host of other things. Some newfie accents are so strong that I have a hard time understanding them if they speak too quickly.

Whatever. It is a play on a certain group in Canada that the US doesn't have. Similar to how Canada plays up America as a land of guns, bbq, football and people saying "Y'all" (Southerners).

Ah ha...Ah ha...

 

[james t kirk]

I've never heard anyone say aboot, but the Americans I have met swear that we do and it grates on their ears.

Americans do say Ruff, whereas we say it as roof (correctly I might add)

Route is R-out in the US and Root in Canada

Creek is Crick in the US and Creek in Canada

Sorry is Sarry in the US and sore ie in Canada

Then there's the whole Zee and Zed thing.

Personally, Z28 is a ZED 28 to me. Sounds a lot meaner than a ZEE 28.

I grew up calling them Zedders, can't imagine calling them a Zee-er.

Just isn't the same.

 

[MarkII]

It's the 17 words thing....I deal with them in a Tv situation..and I have to know how to pronouce in American and then local variations.

It is enirely local. But Americans see it as not "American". While one state over they say it differently. It does get confusing!

As an example...if you came here and saw Qeens Quay on a map would your first try be "Queens Key"? or would you call it kway?

Both are right by the way...it's a local idiom. Much of the US is that way bit they as a country see it as AMERICAN without realizing it's diffferent all over.

I have clients in New Orleans. Now try and figure out cajun! I get names in copy I just cannot even begin to figure out! I have to have them on the phone to listen to make sure it's correct. But yet, it's AMERICAN!

Sigh...they'll never learn.

M2

 

[JohnLarue]

It's the 17 words thing....I deal with them in a Tv situation..and I have to know how to pronounce in American and then local variations.

It is enirely local. But Americans see it as not "American". While one state over they say it differently. It does get confusing!

As an example...if you came here and saw Qeens Quay on a map would your first try be "Queens Key"? or would you call it kway?

Both are right by the way...it's a local idiom. Much of the US is that way bit they as a country see it as AMERICAN without realizing it's diffferent all over.

I have clients in New Orleans. Now try and figure out cajun! I get names in copy I just cannot even begin to figure out! I have to have them on the phone to listen to make sure it's correct. But yet, it's AMERICAN!

Sigh...they'll never learn.

M2

This drives me nuts
Yankees see our pronunciation of English words as un-American.
ITS THE ENGLISH language which the Yanks have butchered.
(Tom Beringer as Sgt Barnes in Platoon "Speak American")
Several years ago I attended a seminar in the US, there was an arrogant self centered prick from NY also in attendance. As soon as her found out I was Canadian he started razzing me with Eh this , Eh that. He also went out of his way to embarrass the Chinese waitress during lunch, asking what type of meat was in the meal & then saying "Meow". What an asshole!!
Finally after two days of this clowns bad act, I asked him & others in attendance " How many times have you heard me say Eh?" The answer was not once.
Call an American on the phone. They do not answer with "Hello" or "How can I help you?" In stead they reply with "U huh" ???? WTF kinda greeting is that.
There is a great deal about Americans which I greatly admire & like, however I just wish they would realize the USA is not the center of the universe and how offensive they can be to other nationalities who are equally proud of their country

 

[rgkv]

who cares

Who cares what the Americans or any other country for that matter thinks of our lauguage or the way we prononce OUR words, EH!!!

 

[Berlin]

So what's the fuzz is all about , eh ?

 

[Don]

I've never heard anyone say aboot, but the Americans I have met swear that we do and it grates on their ears.

Americans do say Ruff, whereas we say it as roof (correctly I might add)

Route is R-out in the US and Root in Canada

Creek is Crick in the US and Creek in Canada

Sorry is Sarry in the US and sore ie in Canada

I've noticed the "route" and "sorry" differences but where have you heard the "roof" and "creek" differences? I have quite bit of friends and relatives in the US but never heard it pronounced "r-out" and "crick". Maybe it is some region of the US, most of the people I know live in the NE US

Then there's the whole Zee and Zed thing.

Personally, Z28 is a ZED 28 to me. Sounds a lot meaner than a ZEE 28.

I grew up calling them Zedders, can't imagine calling them a Zee-er.

Just isn't the same.

Makes me think of this Mike Myers joke where he was wondering why the band ZZ Top isn't called "Zed Zed Top" in Canada

Also don't forget the pro/pra deal:
"pra-cess" in the US vs "pro-cess" in Canada
"pra-ject" vs "pro-ject"

That used to bug the hell out of me but now I'm used to it so I don't notice anymore.

 

[james t kirk]

I've noticed the "route" and "sorry" differences but where have you heard the "roof" and "creek" differences? I have quite bit of friends and relatives in the US but never heard it pronounced "r-out" and "crick". Maybe it is some region of the US, most of the people I know live in the NE US



Makes me think of this Mike Myers joke where he was wondering why the band ZZ Top isn't called "Zed Zed Top" in Canada

Also don't forget the pro/pra deal:
"pra-cess" in the US vs "pro-cess" in Canada
"pra-ject" vs "pro-ject"

That used to bug the hell out of me but now I'm used to it so I don't notice anymore.

The Ruff thing I have heard many times, especially on various home improvement shows. Doesn't appear to be regional.

There's also the vehicle thing.

Americans say Vee HICK le, whereas Canadians say Vee ACLE

 

[someone]

I neva been to da East-Side aka Newfoundland/ Nova Scotia, but I think they speak almost the same as us.

Urban Newfoundlanders don't have strong accents (but it is noticable if you listen for it) but some of those from the outports are really strong.

 

[Meesh]

Let's not leave the US regional accents out of this.

Like in the South.

Rat cheer.

"Zeb, I ain't goin' there, I'm stayin' rat cheer."

 

[drlove]

And get this - Americans spell "upholstery" with an "A", as in "apholstery". Go figure.

 

[drlove]

Also, I couldn't believe it when Dave Grohl or whatever his name is got upset because Canadians pronounce "Nirvana" as Nir-van-a, as opposed to Nir-vah-na". Who really gives a fuck anyway??