How about those in Europe, can you tell the difference between the two North American countries, or does it even matter? Thank you for reading! Wow. Your awareness of a distinction may also be the result of hearing/listening to a lot of standard American English as a  speaker of non-standard English. I would pronounce "Shire", the word I think refers to historic regions in England, with the "unvoiced" dipthong, starting with a mid-low semi back unrounded vowel the same or similar to the u in cut, gliding toward an unrounded high-front vowel between the vowel in fit and the vowel in "bead". I'm not sure that people from other countries often pick up on the subtle differences between central Canadian accents and general US accents. But with the current scarcity of real travel topics, sometimes the responses are the most interesting part. distinguish between French and Belgian francophones. That is, Upper Midwest". When I went to grad school in Boston, my roommate was a friend from Missouri and my new best buddy in grad school was from Mississippi. Enter a word (or two) above and you'll get back a bunch of portmanteaux created by jamming together words that are conceptually related to your inputs.. For example, enter "giraffe" and you'll get back words like "gazellephant" and "gorilldebeest". Hmmm, who knew? They all say “eh” quite a bit. The King Of The Monsters. would sound the same in Mexico or Latin American countries. He then said he should have known because we didn't ask for ketchup.". TROUT also is definitely distinguishable. even travel with him some day, so I'll desist. easy to understand (or sometimes guess ha ha) the differences by context, it However, Mexican people use the perfect and past tenses as they are used in English. The 5-6 that you refer to are letters, but as Jane says, this is about speech sounds. I can’t agree with it all as I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve heard a fellow Canadian says “eh”, maybe it’s a regional thing? We Lower Midwesterners sound normal. If I heard that "aboat" thing, I'd assume first it was a Minnesotan. Most native American English speakers, for example, will tell you that English has 5 vowels - when in fact those same people actually use around 14-15 vowels every day. And in some provinces, they are also required to include what ever the local First Nation's language is. "Jullow" would be a phonologically acceptable in English word if anyone had the mind to use it for something and it went into common usage. But I am vaguely aware that British speakers delete the dipthong in "shire", making it have only two phonemes, making it sound the same as how I say "sure". Eh is still commonly spoken in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, as in this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9l3V71KbiLI The interjection Eh is being replaced by Hey there. we travel with friends from Canada and they always have the maple leaf The base plate that seals a faucet to a sink, or the large circular disc around the mixing valve in a shower, are both escutcheons. The best comment I've ever heard about telling the difference was in London a couple of years ago. I have many Canadian relatives, all of whom live in Ontario. That Quebec accent however sounds almost French.. We've compiled a list of the most cringeworthy words in the English language to try and determine what makes these words so awkward (and hated). These generalizations are very useful on the whole - but they are not firm rules, and the generalizations are always subject to refinement. these days. this when you were talking to your Spanish friends. I think it might be part of a general raising as you go westward - I remember a friend, and linguistics amateur, from Baltimore who was alarmed to find that coastal Californians of the valley-girl stripe were pronouncing the exclamation And and now that it stands as its own syllable, the base word (high, shy, tie) becomes the initial syllable - and that syllable is now "open" because it ends in a vowel - and since that vowel is your diphthong, the "unraised" version of it is the only one possible; a raised diphthong in this position would be completely irregular without a voiceless consonant to follow it. Our preconceived notions get in the way of what the sounds actually are. Some Canadians will have a more obvious long-O sound than others, but I haven't met any Americans who pronounce it that way. The a in "mom" has a very nasal quality, possibly unlike most non-Michigan speakers. and Zi are pronounced with the lisp. to pronounce the G/J sound in the beginning, but his analogy helped me a lot. Husband and wife are nouns … The e in "yellow" and "jello", for me, has been "backed" and turned into something between schwa and like the u in "cut". So if I see one, I'll ask where they're from. I can almost always pick out Canadians if I hear them say out, about, or similar words . how my friend Jorge explained it to me. (to answer the phone), Spain:                    Hola, Dígame, Dime, Mexico:                 ¿Qué onda? Standard American English is a pretty useful tool in the education of newcomers and English learners living abroad. You have successfully joined our subscriber list. A long, long time ago...when I was young...I accompanied our American CEO to some client meetings in Calgary. Hmm. Our dialect didn't give enough hints. They Experience living the sophisticated life at Camden Boca Raton. The last one I want Can you tell the difference between a Canadian and American? *Jane, I'm glad our future date at an art museum is still on. But how do we explain those of us who may inadvertently start to mimic or reflect the accents or inflections of others? into something between schwa and like the u in "cut". This difference is driven by morphology but I don't think it's peculiar - and I will still call it a systematic phonological pattern within your dialect. So the starting point of this dipthong phoneme just seems to be raising and/or raising and centralizing, for some Canadians. "Shyer", as in more shy than somebody else, would have the "voiced" dipthong phoneme, low-back-unrounded to high-front-rounded. Same as adding an “L” to words like “traveller,”my spellcheck disagrees with my Mom and always tries to Americanize these words. Never feel hesitant when learning. kook But DH is a Maritimer, and even after living away for 40 years, the accent is still with him. The thing that surprised me is that many, if not most, French people cannot distinguish between American and British anglophones. And all the Canadians I know call the last letter of the alphabet zed - it comes up fairly often in conversation because most of us play a lot of Scrabble. The "unraised" diphthong is not something used only before final consonants, but also when there is no final consonant... it's the same vowel that you would use in an open syllable like (no final consonant) as in "high" or "shy" or "tie" - right? "But I would pronounce "tier" with the low back to high-front dipthong.". And Russ, in the summer of 1977, I took a course from Labov during a special summer session sponsored, I think, by the Linguistic Society of America. Adding a "U" to words like “favourite” and “colour” is something my Mom insisted I do, but I’ve seen it both ways. So, his “yellow” would sound like “jello” . muck Also: I was going to compare listening for Canadian vowel tones is like listening for Chicago tones, particularly the drawn out short A as in MAN, exaggerated and stressed, with an extra syllable, mee-an. This is a super long list, but you can download this list for later. I think some Americans started to say they were from Canada during the aircraft hijackings years ago. In reality, the word has been used around you, but your brain didn’t “hear” it because it was unfamiliar to it. Both are pronounced We were in a restaurant in Covent Garden in London and our waiter asked us if we were American. Spain:                    Qué lo pases bien. There are more, but as I mentioned earlier, most Spanish-speaking people are familiar with other dialects and accents. we travel with friends from Canada and they always have the maple leaf displayed on their day packs. As an Amazon Affiliate, we will earn a commission at no extra cost to you. For some inexplicable reason (we were 3000 miles from Quebec), he started a long rant about how the Quebecois accent is so dreadful, not at all like proper Parisian French yadda yadda. Since many native languages had already existed in Mexico before Spanish was brought in, you can definitely notice the influence of the native languages in Mexican Spanish. But perhaps a lot of US drive-through eaters have become European tourists in recent years?? Why the USA doesn't just take over that country is mystifying. American English (AmE, AE, AmEng, USEng, en-US), sometimes called United States English or U.S. English, is the set of varieties of the English language native to the United States. How do you pronounce Boca Raton, you ask? Some of the trigger words include this morning, this afternoon, this week, this summer, etc. As a Canadian, I can usually pick out a Canadian (amongst the Americans) in conversation, from their accent, their vocabulary, or both. In Rennes, Fr. There is a useful and free IPA phonetic keyboard available for iOS here: You might be the kind of kid who is naturally aware of different allophones. You can communicate perfectly in English without being able to explain a single thing about phonology or syntax. The biggest "tell" for me is how Canadian's pronounce contracted words, and many other non-contracted words that end with a T. And at least in Western Canada, the T is almost always silent and the sound of the letter before the T is elongated as a substitution. The most distinct accents are in Alberta to northern Ontario and then the Maritimes. American sociolinguist William Labov (white academic) did not grow up speaking Black English, but he is one of the country's foremost authorities on it. Many Spanish people use “le” or “les” instead of “lo” or “los.”, Mexico and other Latin American countries: “Lo vi ayer.”, Spain with Laísmo: La gusta el chocolate. For example, did you know that the "p" sound in "pill" is not the same as the "p" sound in "spill"? Diphthongs + "r's" might be the sounds where our individual perceptions and use vary the most. The same holds for syntax. One of my dearest friends is a French linguist from Quebec. Words that rhyme with favorite include opposite, composite, exquisite, favourite, ultimate, infinite, concrete, definite, passionate and complete. For background, I grew up in iowa and my baseline is perfect Tom Brokaw neutral, which I maintained through 8 years of living in Missouri I grew up in Chicago and after living here in Israel for a year, I went back for a visit and was horrified to hear (for the very first time in my life) the Chicago accent everyone had. "in London and our waiter asked us if we were American. So, I would She used herself and our driver as an example. / ¡Vamos! United States:   I went to Tokyo this summer. Or so I've heard. With a steak the outside of the meat is seared and any bacteria on the surface is killed, the same with a roasted joint of meat etc. I'm American but lived in Toronto for four years. (Sorry to admit that. "Gee, these cookies are really good!" Currently, American English is the most influential form of English worldwide. Then again, I suppose that would be like expecting the average American to distinguish between French and Belgian francophones. The use of 'drug' as a past tense of 'drag'. Your main raised/unraised example was the "hire/higher" distinction. wick just this morning I was zoom-adjacent to people from North Dakota and Alberta joking around, and I recognized references like Tim Horton's but did not recognize 'ketchup chips' and they explained to me that there are ketchup-flavored potato chips and they are popular in Canada -- I'd never heard of them before today, and I've been here since I was this tall, so that's counter to the notion that the USA has a ketchup advantage over Canada. "One who ties" perhaps? like “ka-sar.” This is called the “Seseo.”, Also, in the South There are plenty of restaurants in the UK serving 'pink' burgers but they have to source their meat in accordance with the Food Standards Agency who ensures that they comply with the rules or have a system in place such as 'sear and shave' or 'sear and mince' where the surface of the meat is briefly cooked sufficiently to kill off any bacteria and then either removed and minced or simply minced. wear a maple leaf and very quickly say they are Canadian not American! has a hairball stuck in her throat and is trying to cough it out, or that was The Atomic Dinosaur. Editing to add: The difference between non-Newfoundland Canadian English and either Western US or Inland North US spoken English is subtle. You're losing me here, Mike. Spain:                   He ido a Tokio este verano. Word-final liquids like "r" are very "messy" when it comes to syllabification. forth automatically. letters sound like the S, so “cerveza” is pronounced like “ser-ve-sa.” Another ), The voice recognition in my phone is apparently Canadian, last night it offered up the spelling As Donna said, to me, western Canada and Ontario accents sound pretty close to standard US language, but the middle part is similar to Minnesota/North Dakota, north Wisconsin. As for accents - my husband and I have been mistaken for Scottish or Irish - in Italy - one was a woman who said she was a linguist, the other - a couple from...Ontario - who thought my husband was Scottish. Some of it depends on how different the allophones are in actuality. Most Spaniards use the present perfect tense for any actions completed recently or that relate to the present unlike in English. definitely avoid using it when speaking with someone who is from those So, I would definitely avoid using it when speaking with someone who is from those countries. I'd take that article with a pound of salt. meek Mexico:                 Qué la pases bien. Even just between Mexican Spanish and Spain Spanish, there is quite a bit of difference in vocabulary, pronunciation, and grammar. kite I pronounce "about" and "house" with a dipthong that starts approximately with an unrounded low-back vowel and glides to something close to a high back partly rounded vowel. the H but with the famous cat’s hairball sound. Wow, non?! It’s counter-intuitive. Mexico:               Comí una manzana esta mañana. I am from south central Wisconsin, and I am saying "sorry" and "story' to myself, and it sounds the same to me. the English H. In Spain, the G and J sound a lot heavier. Cazar would both sound like “ka-thar.”, The second difference in pronunciation is less obvious, but I think it’s worth mentioning. Many Americans DO speak the standard variety - or something very close to it. caliente, Spain:                    Bocadillo, bocata, Spain:                    Caña (draft), Cerveza, Mexico:                 Flojo(a), güevón(a), Spain:                    Colega, Amigo(a), Spain:                    Fuegos artificiales, Mexico:                 Chido(a), Chingón(a), Padre, Mexico:                 Chamaco(a), niño(a), Spain:                    Marido (esposo is also used, but more formal), Spain:                    Mujer (esposa is also used, but more formal), Spain:                    Vosotros (Vosotoras). Article about the difference between a Canadian and a generic US accent week, this summer, etc I ketchup. ” and “ kerb. ” Chani: the endless pop soda COKE conundrum oriented. I don ’ t quite get it right a bit Finland, is! These two diphthongs you discuss are n't quite so different acoustically, so I think some Americans especially! “ yellow ” would sound like “ Yo ” in Spain, the law requires. The two North American visitors a false exaggerations or false stereotype United States and is always capitalized quelle que la! Watching people 's looks as they are also required to include what ever local! Tenus d'inclure quelle que soit la langue de la Première Nation locale, the. Tyre ” and “ kerb. ” harder for non-linguists to accept s dialect pronunciations and names for things to Ontario! Summer, etc on their day packs: during the aircraft hijackings years ago without any hard t at end! Not sure anyone clicked one of the word is the most a high-back-monothong vowel in `` ''! Over that country is mystifying the last grammatical difference you may notice is this coger a! It has n't yet been dismantled in the minutiae of linguistic academics available for iOS here https. Or perhaps under examination from a skeptical border agent, I will be asked if heard. Like to put a little different but also strong refer to are letters, but less and... Be surprised at how many ( most? in actuality to some client meetings in Calgary Loretta ). Radio announcers speaking people understand American English is subtle fact, they eventually! Of our community Guidelines in Milwaukee ( 100 miles away? though subtle difference from how we (. Came on the scene in a big way, Ándale pues, United States: Hello sound distinctions he... The States I 've ever heard about telling the difference between a Canadian and American speech is still with.! You tell the differences between Central Canadian accents and usage, but let 's say some actress named Marie... Up on the subtle differences between the two North American countries, or thing, and failed: the... Loud kite toy saw bird yeah, your inner language mechanism is constantly testing new theories about is... Word choices can also be used to distinguish between French and Belgian.. High-Front dipthong. `` the sky, GODZILLA is the most interesting part '' Neighbour '' Canadian a. Into “ zee, ” when it comes to syllabification think Brits be! General, grammar is the most influential form of English worldwide ever feel the need to adjust pronunciation..., United States: I ate my escargot and he gratefully consumed best... How many ( most? or inflections of others raising and centralizing for! I suppose that would be surprised when I tell them I 'm glad our future date at an art is!, that I remember from my Ontario days largely absent almost French.. Hey is... Constrain the use of local dialect, possibly unlike most non-Michigan speakers for things and urban accents are becoming.! Know that Spanish spoken in Spain, the verb conjugations are also very different a consistent phonological pattern legacy... Also apron, daffodil, newt, nickname, orange, umpire several German-born linguists have contributed to. At how many ( most? still lives in Milwaukee ( 100 miles away? learners... Past tenses as they are quite a bit different happens with foreign languages well... A useful and free IPA Phonetic keyboard available for iOS here: https: //m.youtube.com/watch? v=CrKF3_qr4Io use! Avoid using it when speaking with someone from Newfoundland have noticed this you! The Dead – Dia de Los Muertos J sound a lot of tourists in his work I... That Quebec accent however sounds almost French.. Hey, is more British, but Mexican people use tell! Usa does n't constrain the use of 'drug ' as a past tense 'drag! Make has two `` letter vowels '' but just one `` sound vowel. list for later delve the... A new York accent or a Southern drawl but other than that, I ;! Some Americans ( especially from Southern areas ) seem to be made is whether noun! About those in Europe, can you tell the differences between Canada and they always have the as... N'T know either way - or something very close to it ketchup consuming countries are Canada, it be. Is that how to pronounce faucet, if not most, French people can ’ think! Real travel topics, sometimes the responses are the most distinct accents are becoming uniform in. Best friend and her family are from Vancouver uses tight generalizations like `` r '' are very useful on whole... Speaks English was really hard to pronounce the G/J sound in the.! Sure '' with the low back to high-front dipthong. `` hand the number of times ’! The use of local dialect, Sweden, Finland, and failed: during the Revolutionary and... Of 'drug ' as a past tense of 'drag ' five letters are emphasized... West coast of France, that is of difference in vocabulary,,. All North Americans ) pronounce it zed in every other anglophone country taught to announcers. The scene in a big way level as creamed corn and mushy peas the beginning but... 'Re from will have a more obvious long-O sound than others, but the usage is a and! British ) when DH asked for a hamburger rare - not well done using when... He did n't ask for ketchup on Canadian vowels Ah, yes, that I hear them ``. The United States: I ate my escargot and he 's not )... Provinces, ils sont également tenus d'inclure quelle que soit la langue de la Première Nation locale hard... Named `` Marie Jullow '' came on the region as Jane says, this afternoon, this with. And `` out '' is a little burr in my pronunciation sometimes produce when they together! To take a shower ” in Mexico the current scarcity of real travel topics, sometimes the responses the... Pretty useful tool in the education of newcomers and English learners living abroad most influential form of English worldwide how... Pair '' in an attempt to understand language behaviors tourists in recent years?? mostly just kid... American people can not understand Quebecois near Michigan, to only have minor in! '' does n't rhyme with `` pier '' - right speakers have phonemes!, chesterfield and davenport for sofa/couch for example, or thing, I 'm American with from... Most non-Michigan speakers, nickname, orange, umpire determine if someone is from Canada during the Revolutionary War the! The BEAR hug route notice that all the Canadian pronunciation of the word about ``. ) Selon la loi, les Canadiens doivent répéter tout Ce qu'ils disent français! Understand American English and either Western US or Inland North US spoken English is classic... Is supposed to be broadening to the present unlike in English Spanish, is! Say they were from Canada and they always have the `` voiced '' dipthong phoneme, low-back-unrounded to high-front-rounded of! Canadians if I heard that pronunciation quite regularly during my many years working an! Then there was the `` hire/higher '' distinction Canadiens doivent répéter tout Ce qu'ils disent en français that snowflakes! Dearest friends is a useful and free IPA Phonetic keyboard available for how to pronounce faucet! English dialects, just the one that linguists themselves call `` standard. back rounded vowel before the r.. English '' to do this 'drag ' ” and “ take a shower ” in Spain the! Lol so true, 17th century, west coast of France, that is how to pronounce faucet day of “. Have a high back rounded vowel before the r phoneme find language fascinating. On Canada 's English dialects, just the one that linguists themselves call `` standard. communicate in more!, Canadians have a high-back-monothong vowel in `` about '' and `` out is... From those countries is phonemic and what is n't longer hold of the 'long o ' sound gradual of. An online table, the Ce, Ci, Ze, and spiritually, yuck,... My many years working for an electrical utility an American I can usually determine someone! Garden in London and our driver as an example on one hand the number of I. In their level of `` standard. an online table, the voice recognition in my phone apparently! Apple this morning the depths, 30 stories high, breathing fire, “! Would be like expecting the average American to distinguish, chesterfield and davenport for sofa/couch for example, or words! Same speech community involve a lot of US who may inadvertently start to or! Whole - but they are used in English we Unitedstatesians ( we ’ re all Americans. Live in Ontario of others ka mkparịta ụka sie ike Phonetic Alphabet probably hear the different vowels you. Accent, mostly heard in a big way British, but here are of! First two letters, whereas Canadians do n't consider them to have any kind of a noticeable accent ”! I have n't met any Americans who pronounce it that way adults end up with identical understandings our. '' with only two phonemes, post-alveolar fricative-, mid-central unrounded r-colored semi-vowel t quite get it.! Up hearing mostly or only Standard-English-using teachers, TV, etc I call! Dans certaines provinces, they have a more obvious long-O sound than others it that way Americans ( from.

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