Canadian ways

Can you pronounce vase in Canadian?

What is igloo?

Do Canadians like dancing?

CANADIAN ENGLISH

Canada shares with the U.S a large vocabulary. But prestige of British English has exerted strong influence on Canadian speech and habits. In the speech of Canadians there is Brit­ish colouring. Canadian speech patterns are neither British nor American. They have many Canadianisms. Prominent among Canadians are proper nouns - names of regions: French Shore, Lakehead; names given to the natives: Bluenoses, Hogtowners.

Many Canadianisms are loan - words from French, Eskimo and Indian. Many Canadianisms are characteristic of certain regions: the Maritimes, Ontario, the Prairie Provinces, British Columbia and the Northland. Hundred of Canadian words fall into the category of animal and plant names: Canada goose, snow apple. For many terms there are special Canadian significations: warden, separate school.

In pronunciation Canadians are neither American nor British, though they have much in common with both. Textile they pronounce ['tekstail] as the British do, but missile - [misl] - as Americans do. Ca­nadians pronounce some words in a way that is typically Canadian: khaki -[karki], vase -[vez].

In spelling Canadian usage is influenced by the practice of both Americans and British. In recent years, American spellings are becoming more common used in Canada. Many have been adopted by Cana­dian newspapers and publishers. Young people use such spelling as honor, center, and program more freely than was the case. Some American forms are accepted as proper in many Canadian schools. Canadi­ans respond to these variants with equal ease.

PLEASURES AND PASTIMES

The native people Inuits /Eskimos/ survived incredibly cold winter in the igloos -dwellings in the shape of dome built of blocks of snow. They hunted for food with simple sticks and traveled on toboggans. Now most of them live in normal houses and travel on snowmobiles.

The Hurons, like many native people of other tribes, were addicted to gambling. Some of them would often lose all the furs they had collected that season or all their wampum /string of beads/. The dish game and aescara were played in longhouses but, lacrosse, of course, took play outside. The games could go on for several days, with plenty of hospitality. These festivities were enjoyed greatly. The Hurons used all the magic they knew of to help them win games. Everyone within range was welcomed. Guests were fed copiously and the host ran back and forth to see that no one was neglected. Dancing was an important part of these feasts. Two old men would be in the center of a circle of dancers and the old men would shake rattles and sing.

Singing was very popular. Voices were raised in song at home as well as at church and singing schools. They could be found in. many places in the wintertime.

There were 'house- warmings'. One of these was known as a " sparking bee". At these parties young men and misses could cozy up to each other.

Picnics often were planned at the time of horse races. Picnics sometimes were potluck events but, later on, some of them became very sumptuous. Family picnics were always looked forward to between periods of hard work in the summertime.

Agricultural fail fairs got underway. At a local church ladies had a table which displayed " pretty toys". A charity bazaar raised money to clothe the poor.

Canadians had a passion for dancing /" togetherness" /. It was an antidote to the isolation of the bush. The entire family showed up at dances. Small dances were named 'sprees'. Then they became known as 'hops'. Many had callers. Canadians danced Soldier's Joy, Pop Goes, and Sir Rodger. Graciousness was the order of the day. The master of the house should see that all the ladies dance. In the wintertime, girls played a game called " What will my husband be like", by pouring liquid wax over a key and drop­ping it into cold water.