I once spent a long week with a photographer from Wales (which I know is not in Canada...) and when he tried to speak English I could not understand a work he spoke. He insisted he was speaking English. I wished, at the time, that I had access to a Welsh phrase book. Even a glossary of nicknames for things like coffee, beer and cameras would have been helpful. Thankfully we had a few German friends along who were adept at translating...
Just curious which is the recommended phrase book for Americans heading to Canada? Eh?
Or perhaps this isn't an issue on the west coast.
(kidding. just kidding... ).
31 comments:
you are over-preparing again bro!
Just go with the flow. You would need two phrase books in case you lost one. Just go and have a good time. I have spent time in Vancouver. If they understood me they will understand you.
It's a bit like the SF with a lot of immigrants-mostly Asian-so you will be dealing with that. But, English isn't that much different there so it shouldn't be a problem.
A Welsh pbrase book would likely not have helped you …
Guys. I've been to Canada. More than once. I was kidding. A joke. Honest.
The only phrases any American needs in Canada are please and thank you. I find many Americans just grunt when they intend to say thank you. Oh yes of course one more. Saying you're sorry over the slightest bump or miss cue.
One more thing, we line up for EVERYTHING! I swear if I just stood in the middle of a bank or store people would start to line behind me :)
This is of course not meant for you Kirk.
Eric
Kirk:
Watch some TV episodes of "Trailer Park Boys", followed by "Bob and Doug McKenzie" but not too many since your brain will turn to mush.
A Warm Hello from a Sunny Toronto Canada.
If somebody calls you a "hoser," that's not *necessarily* an insult, especially if the person who is calling you that is a hoser.
In the Montreal area and up into Quebec province basic French language skills are recommended. Our car broke down in a snowstorm and the tow truck driver spoke no English, nor did anyone else I called for help. I showed him the Brossard Subaru dealer’s website on my phone and he knew where to go. Kilometers per hour needs translation to miles per hour. But you don’t need a book for that. Memorizing a few kph to mph equivalents makes it easier to drive.
Hi Kirk,
we do have a phrase here saying „ Austria and Germany are two separate nations, divided by a common language“. You could also transfer this to America and Britain, or Texas and Wales.
It is really sad, you don’t want to come to Europe this autumn, but I can easily understand your decisions. Have a good time in Canada ! Btw. I would only bring one G9 and the 12-60 Zoom with me, and in case it broke or was stolen, I could have an extra amount of time to spend with my beautiful woman. Regards, best wishes,
Helmut the Austrian.
Thanks Helmet. I'll be there when things calm down a bit. Maybe in the cold of winter. But I'll probably have to make it a solo trip. B. is not a big cold weather fan...
Kirk, I have to disagree with Robert Hudyma. If you want to master Canadian English, you must watch EVERY SINGLE episode of Bob & Doug (and probably the Great White North too). Mushed brains are just an added bonus.
I should have added, Bob & Doug will only teach you good ONTARIO rural English. Might not do you much good in Lotus Land (from one who has lived in both and is therefore unbiased).
Actually you might really enjoy Slings and Arrows, a Canadian comedy about theater.
If you want to go to Alberta for a road trip, the comedy Corner gas would give you some insight.
Otherwise just watch many American tv show. Many are filmed in Vancouver. Like the Flash.
The best Canadian science fiction show is Dark Matter.
But no doubt you will love Vancouver. I wanted to live there after I visited back in the 90's. But that didn't happen.
The Canadian version of English is actually very close to the American version, a few extra vowels aside, especially in the western provinces. No worries. Your experience with the person from Wales reminds me of my experience with Scottish people. I can successfully converse with any single person from Scotland. But, get two of them in a room and let them start arguing and I can not even be sure they are speaking English. Enjoy the trip. Do be prepared for the rain. The rainy season has begun in the Pacific NW.
We will be overjoyed to share the rain and cool weather with them...coming from drought ridden and heat clobbered Central Texas. We hope to be just a little too cold the entire time we are there.
FYI, there are parts of Louisiana and Mississippi where I can't fathom much of the language. Either that or the natives there talk so slowly that I lose interest waiting and thereby lose the entire thread of it.
Listen to Stuart Mclean and Leonard Cohen. https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=stuart+mclean+swallows+a+fly
Hi, Kirk. I realize that your comment was entirely tongue-in-cheek, the sort of dry humor beloved by traditional British subjects. FWIW, I recall seeing a movie filmed in Glasgow Scotland with everyone speaking a form of English so thick that this English-language movie had English subtitles.
ROFL. Love your sense of humour!
Once you find the book try finding a Canadian Food Restaurant. I think you will have the same success with both.
I really love the photo which accompanies this blog post. If you ever decide to dip your toes into the lucrative waters of print sales (aka TOP’s semi-regular print offers), I would gladly purchase a print of this image.
All you need to know is the difference between a Loonie and a Toonie...and what a double double is. When in doubt, apologize. It's the Canadian way, eh. You'll be just fine.
CR, I'm sorry...
What is a double double?
I'm sorry.
Kirk
OMG!! Canada??! You really don't need a phrasebook. Don't talk to anyone - they have very dangerous ideas. Make sure your shots are up-to-date. Stay close to the U.S. border - away from the polar bears and so you can jump back to safety if one of them approaches you, eh? Do not take an offer to go to Tim Horton's it seemed like a really shady place.
Do you HAVE to go? Wouldn't Northern Minnesota be exotic enough? If you MUST go, go in January - they all escape to Mexico then - you can have the whole place to yourself. Oh, and avoid that kissy French part - disease you know. And make sure your shots are up-to-date.
Double-double? As a coffee lover, you need not concern yourself with this. Just keeping buying your lattes and cappuccinos at indie shops and you'll be fine. Plenty of those in Van.
For the record, "double-double" refers to double sugar, double cream, and is how many natives order their coffee from Tim Horton's. I like their bagels but not their coffee myself.
Btw, you should be aware of the various nicknames for Tim Horton's: Timmie's, Tim's, Timmy Ho's, there are probably others, those are the eastern Canada variants. The sandwiches are ok too.
I have noticed a bizarre trend lately, whole wheat low-fat croissants. Stay away, I'm begging you, don't encourage that.
Robert how dare you look down upon the great Canadian double-double. LOL. Name me one other place where I can buy my coffee and use that same coffee to fill in the potholes in my driveway after our long Canadian winter. Regulate yourself, sir.
A quick query, if Mr. Tuck as a jolly time in Vancouver and we decide to follow his example and visit Canada will we be allowed to drink alcohol? Or can tourists only drink what's available at the nearest Tim Horton's. A bit hazy on the rules.
Professional Tourist
Anonymous...we sure do have plenty of alcohol up here if that's your thing. You can't drink it on the street while you are walking about the way we can with your Timmies, but yes Canadian beer is quite fantastic if you are a beer lover. And Canadian whisky I find to be much nicer than any American variant. I'm not much of a drinker though so don't take my word for it.
BTW I'm just having some fun with everyone here. My extensive experience with Tim Horton's is very hit or miss for all of the items on their menu. I've had some nice cups of coffee from Tim's and some good, fresh sandwiches. I've also had some dreadful cups of coffee that I couldn't finish. But they are very much an institution up here the way hockey is. And Kirk, now that you've visited Canada twice, we need to make you an honorary HOSER. My fellow Canadian readers would agree.
take off eh :-) to the great white north
crsantin: I second the motion to award Kirk honorary Hosership. Only a real Canuck would fret over the meaning of a double double.
"Toronto" Jon
I'd hate to beat this to death, but I have to comment about Canadian beer. Here in Ottawa, and note that I have not done a complete survey, but I actually believe that there are more micro-breweries than there are beer drinkers. My favourite micro-brewery beer name: 5W30. I am not kidding.
Within a 15 minute drive of my house, there are a dozen Tim's, 5 or 6 micro-breweries, and more cannabis stores than I can count. I think we have more cannabis stores than we have smart phone outlets, and we have LOTS of those.
I don't know if all Tim's have this now, but the one nearest my house has a large TV screen next to two lounge chairs which often shows a fireplace video. They also have an outdoor patio with a view of the parking lot, but they are not alone in this. I see many patios that overlook parking lots or 6 lane roads. But I can't find any local restaurant or café patios that overlook lakes or river shores. I think it would make a good photo project to get pics of patios in parking lots. Very dystopian. I think they should set up patios that overlook drive-through lanes.
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