Speech pattern and typographical variations across Canada

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by Sarah89

I think the way some Americans say "about" is actually really hick like and annoying. They love to tease us for this word but their super harsh "owwwwwt" isn't very charming either. I watch CNN and I hear this "BOWT" drawl from some if their correspondents and have to laugh.

As much as the Canadian ''about'' sounds a bit goofy to some, I find the American ''a-baaahhht'' sounds a bit lazy.

[lio45]

Originally Posted by rousseau

I've probably mentioned this on this board before, but up until the age of ten or so I honestly thought that the city in Saskatchewan and the female pudenda were designated by the same word.

And being a little kid, there was probably a moment when I thought, "oh, that's interesting," and then never gave it a second thought.

Thing is, being that Regina the city is virtually unknown outside of Canada, it does raise eyebrows when you say it. I recall once somewhere in Asia, while talking with a guy from that very city, getting dirty looks from several American women at the same table as us in a pub. Serious, withering looks.

And neither I nor the Saskatchewanian knew why at time. Being that it seemed rather bizarre to be the object of so much hatred for no known reason, I thought about it for days, and eventually it dawned on me that we'd repeated the word "Regina" several times, and that the disapproving women considered us to be uncouth or sexist. Probably both.

You have to be somewhat forgiving of that, I guess. Because what would you think if you made out little else but the word "vagina" several times from two boisterous gents laughing away in a noisy pub? That they were both gynecologists talking shop?

I am surprised they didn't end up naming that place either the same as Victoria, BC, or the same as Victoriaville, QC, or using the same logic as Kingston, ON (i.e. Queenston), or just Queensville or Queensbury or something like that. There are so many different ways to honor the queen that don't sound like 'vagina', they could've selected one of those.

[Sarah89]

Originally Posted by Acajack

As much as the Canadian ''about'' sounds a bit goofy to some, I find the American ''a-baaahhht'' sounds a bit lazy.

I think it sounds like they're screaming "owwww" in a long extended way. It's not just lazy sounding but annoying as it gets. Maybe I'm just finding fault with it because I've been teased by them in the past for my "about" haha. They need a taste of their own medicine.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by lio45

I am surprised they didn't end up naming that place either the same as Victoria, BC, or the same as Victoriaville, QC, or using the same logic as Kingston, ON (i.e. Queenston), or just Queensville or Queensbury or something like that. There are so many different ways to honor the queen that don't sound like 'vagina', they could've selected one of those.

I guess vaginas just weren't on their minds very much in those days.

[kool maudit]

"regina" would be "ray-gheen-ah" were we as classically inclined in pronunciation as we are in naming.

[SignalHillHiker]

I hate that. "Religija" in Slavic languages is pronounced with that old G.

[RWin]

Originally Posted by Acajack

I guess vaginas just weren't on their minds very much in those days.

Or maybe they were. From here:

10 Reasons to visit Regina

5. Its pronunciation
It's not said Regina like the name, but embarrassingly linked, rhyme-wise, with a certain part of the female anatomy. Or as one local DJ puts it, 'Regina: it rhymes with fun.' Maybe they should switch to the city nickname, Queen City?

[Nathan]

Originally Posted by SignalHillHiker

I hate that. "Religija" in Slavic languages is pronounced with that old G.

Ukrainian and Belarusian would use more of an h sound . The hard G is basically absent in Ukrainian other than a couple natural words and more recent loan words/place names, but it is shifting to cut the g in loan words and substitute the h instead. Czech and Slovakian are also heavier on the h than the g.


As for the pronunciation of Regina... It was the British pronunciation of the Latin in use (and I saw a British show on castles a while back where they talked about some carved Rs for Rex and Regina, pronouncing Regina as we would the city, so in at least some accents/usages it is still pronounced thus in the UK).

From what I've found...

Classical Latin = hard g, i = ee
Ecclesiastical Latin = soft g, i = ee
British/English Latin = soft g, i = eye

[Blader]

I knew a Montreal francophone working in Calgary for Air Canada. The caller wanted to go to Regina. She heard Red China. A comedic conversation ensued. You can imagine!

[Acajack]

It could be worse. Wasn't Regina originally called Pile O' Bones?

[Xelebes]

Originally Posted by Acajack

It could be worse. Wasn't Regina originally called Pile O' Bones?

That was the old nickname for the place.

[Blader]

Originally Posted by Acajack

It could be better. Wasn't Regina originally called Pile O' Bones?

Yes, and I've corrected that for you. It's better - imo, a wonderful name!

[Nathan]

Originally Posted by Xelebes

That was the old nickname for the place.

A translation of the Cree Oscana/Oskana, which is where Wascana Park gets its name from. So there is still a place within Regina that is called "pile of bones".

[Docere]

Originally Posted by flar

I can't stand that accent, but I hear it a lot. It seems to be what has emerged from the multicultural mish mash in Toronto schools as it cuts across races.

Obviously this is exaggerated, but who is an example of someone who speaks with this accent?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YAFGxKou-Dg

[Sarah89]

http://vocaroo.com/i/s0PCIHeoT1Ui

curious what you all think. I took the Canadian speech test meme thing-y from reddit. Tried to be honest

*shudders* I hate the sound of my own voice.

[SignalHillHiker]

Your voice is lovely (I'm gay, BTW, don't worry. It's not a "OMG GIRL ON THE INTERNET!" thing).

Your accent is much easier for me to hear when you're reading a sentence as opposed to a single word.

I'd know you weren't local from "about", "house", "mouth", and "bagels". And it's all so sharp and... Germanic? It sounds like you'd never say "Tszal" instead of "That is all", for example.

Here's mine... not a natural flow as I'm reading but pronunciation is pretty close to natural.

http://vocaroo.com/i/s1mNUIMccSoS

[Sarah89]

Originally Posted by SignalHillHiker

Your voice is lovely (I'm gay, BTW, don't worry. It's not a "OMG GIRL ON THE INTERNET!" thing).

Your accent is much easier for me to hear when you're reading a sentence as opposed to a single word.

I'd know you weren't local from "about", "house", "mouth", and "bagels". And it's all so sharp and... Germanic? It sounds like you'd never say "Tszal" instead of "That is all", for example.

Here's mine... not a natural flow as I'm reading but pronunciation is pretty close to natural.

http://vocaroo.com/i/s1mNUIMccSoS

LOL Germanic? That's weird. I'm from Southern Ontario still though (not from the prairies or something if that's what you thought). People don't really point out my accent around where I live but I have this feeling that it's a little stronger than average.

I think you sound regular. Like anyone else from southern Ontario

[SignalHillHiker]

Germanic is the wrong word, I think. I just meant... choppy? Like there's a clear separation between each word.

[Sarah89]

I think that was because I was a bit nervous lol

[SignalHillHiker]

A bunch of different accents in this one. Danny's an interesting mix... he says words the way I think I do, but enunciates the way I think you do.

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