Site Search:
 
Speak Korean Now!
Teach English Abroad and Get Paid to see the World!
Korean Job Discussion Forums Forum Index Korean Job Discussion Forums
"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Teachers from Around the World!"
 
 FAQFAQ   SearchSearch   MemberlistMemberlist   UsergroupsUsergroups   RegisterRegister 
 ProfileProfile   Log in to check your private messagesLog in to check your private messages   Log inLog in 

Accents (Canadians)
Goto page Previous  1, 2
 
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Korean Job Discussion Forums Forum Index -> Off-Topic Forum
View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
Lao Wai



Joined: 01 Aug 2005
Location: East Coast Canada

PostPosted: Fri Jun 15, 2007 9:50 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

SarcasmKills wrote:
Lao Wai wrote:
RACETRAITOR wrote:
I have to admit the only Canadian accents I'm really, really conscious of are east coast and Native.


I can really hear someone's accent if they are from Cape Breton in Nova Scotia or if they are from Newfoundland. However if they're from Halifax, Nova Scotia or Fredericton, New Brunswick I don't think they have any more of an accent than someone from Ottawa.


You'd be thinking wrong then.

There is definitely a difference.

CBC has standardized some word pronunciations across the Great White North, but those east of Ontario definitely have a different accent than someone from Ottawa... and most Ontarians for that matter...

Especially when in comes to certain words...


But that's just it...I find that Canadians categorizing other Canadians' accents is B.S. For example, I was in Thailand a few years ago. I met a bunch of guys staying at the same resort as me. After a while we got to discussing where we were from. The were from L.A. I'm from New Brunswick. They were completely flabbergasted. They just assumed I was American because of my accent. Remember, I'm from New Brunswick. Now, if I have some kind of 'funny' accent, you'd think that these Californians would have detected it. In some ways, I sound more 'American' than my fellow Canadians from BC or Ontario. And whether you like it or not, when people think of a 'standard' accent in Canada, they think of American t.v. accents. With the exception of a few words, such as 'out, about, and sorry', I sound pretty much like the people on U.S. tv.

I do realize there are differences between East and West Coast accents. What I don't like though, is this idea that West Coast accents are somehow 'standard' or 'normal'. According to who? And, just as there are variations in accents in BC, so too are there in the East Coast.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Hollywoodaction



Joined: 02 Jul 2004

PostPosted: Fri Jun 15, 2007 4:27 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Lao Wai wrote:
SarcasmKills wrote:
Lao Wai wrote:
RACETRAITOR wrote:
I have to admit the only Canadian accents I'm really, really conscious of are east coast and Native.


I can really hear someone's accent if they are from Cape Breton in Nova Scotia or if they are from Newfoundland. However if they're from Halifax, Nova Scotia or Fredericton, New Brunswick I don't think they have any more of an accent than someone from Ottawa.


You'd be thinking wrong then.

There is definitely a difference.

CBC has standardized some word pronunciations across the Great White North, but those east of Ontario definitely have a different accent than someone from Ottawa... and most Ontarians for that matter...

Especially when in comes to certain words...


But that's just it...I find that Canadians categorizing other Canadians' accents is B.S. For example, I was in Thailand a few years ago. I met a bunch of guys staying at the same resort as me. After a while we got to discussing where we were from. The were from L.A. I'm from New Brunswick. They were completely flabbergasted. They just assumed I was American because of my accent. Remember, I'm from New Brunswick. Now, if I have some kind of 'funny' accent, you'd think that these Californians would have detected it. In some ways, I sound more 'American' than my fellow Canadians from BC or Ontario. And whether you like it or not, when people think of a 'standard' accent in Canada, they think of American t.v. accents. With the exception of a few words, such as 'out, about, and sorry', I sound pretty much like the people on U.S. tv.

I do realize there are differences between East and West Coast accents. What I don't like though, is this idea that West Coast accents are somehow 'standard' or 'normal'. According to who? And, just as there are variations in accents in BC, so too are there in the East Coast.


Like the kind spoken by all those Canadian news anchors on American TV?

PS. Still can't believe what has become of JD Roberts.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
SarcasmKills



Joined: 07 Apr 2003
Location: Seoul

PostPosted: Fri Jun 15, 2007 6:03 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hollywoodaction wrote:


PS. Still can't believe what has become of JD Roberts.


No shit eh? I still remember watching him on MuchMusic as a kid. Crazy.

I always get "you sound American too", when actually I sound Windsorite and Americans always pick up our accents when visiting my hometown on weekends.

It's Windsor's gift to the world.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Adventurer



Joined: 28 Jan 2006

PostPosted: Sat Jun 16, 2007 6:40 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I do not think Canadian accents vary that much, in general, when compared to say England or the United States. Sometimes, you just can't tell the difference between people unless they have a strong regional accent. I don't run into that a lot except from some people from say rural Ontario and Newfoundland. Of course, everyone has some sort of accent. I am mostly familiar with Ontario, B.C., and Newfoundland. I have seen more of a pronounced accent in certain parts of Ontario and Newfoundland than from the people from B.C.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
grainger



Joined: 21 Sep 2006
Location: Wonju, Korea

PostPosted: Sat Jun 16, 2007 8:57 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I'm from rural Ontario and I can tell you that compared to what you might call standard pronounciation I have a bit of an accent. For example, I say thure instead of their, and (are and our) are pronounced in the same way; not (are and hour). However, compared to my grandparents my pronounciation is possitivily main stream. I say saw instead of seen in the appropriate context, a speech pattern that is unfortunately invading many cities, I also say garage instead of gairauge.

Personally, I think accents are interesting. I was reading a book called "The Mother Tongue" by Bill Bryson that says that people that leave the geographical area in which they were raised actually tend to cling more tightly to the speech patterns of their home territory than those that remain behind. It's just a way people have of holding on to who they are; a way of distinguishing ourselves from our peers. Which is undoubtably also why you are recieving so many comments on your accent.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
yingwenlaoshi



Joined: 12 Feb 2007
Location: ... location, location!

PostPosted: Sat Jun 16, 2007 9:44 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Accents are everywhere. From the south side of the city to the north side. Open your ears.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Lao Wai



Joined: 01 Aug 2005
Location: East Coast Canada

PostPosted: Sat Jun 16, 2007 10:47 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

yingwenlaoshi wrote:
Accents are everywhere. From the south side of the city to the north side. Open your ears.


Is this comment directed at anyone in particular?
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Korean Job Discussion Forums Forum Index -> Off-Topic Forum All times are GMT - 8 Hours
Goto page Previous  1, 2
Page 2 of 2

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum


This page is maintained by the one and only Dave Sperling.
Contact Dave's ESL Cafe
Copyright © 2018 Dave Sperling. All Rights Reserved.

Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2002 phpBB Group

TEFL International Supports Dave's ESL Cafe
TEFL Courses, TESOL Course, English Teaching Jobs - TEFL International