- Share This Post
- submit
- 1
-
Sparkle (0)
In the 1950s, a Canadian writer named Helen Gordon McPherson wrote: "Canadians have been so busy explaining to the Americans that we aren't British, and to the British that we aren't Americans..."
Certainly one of the highlights of living and working overseas all these years is the chance to work with so many Americans and British. They're everywhere! And I love poking fun at them. When I'm with a group of British friends, I defend the Americans. Then vice versa. There's always this fun rivalry and competitiveness between them. And I'm happy to be Canadian, which means I feel affinity to both sides.
I used to think Canadians were so different from Americans. That's what we pride ourselves on, isn't it? But when I lived in Australia, I realised I am so American! The influence is understandable and undeniable. Of course I sound like an American with my accent. I enjoy American TV shows and American music. I understand American humour and generally have a healthy appreciation and fondness for our neighbours.
But after years of working with British people (and now the company I work for is a huge British one), I must say, I've been duly influenced. Sure, it wasn't difficult to appreciate their love for sarcasm, satire and self-depracation - that's totally my type of humour.
But I'm talking about language. Words like 'realize', 'recognize' and 'organize' don't look right to me anymore. It's 'realise', 'recognise' and 'organise'!
Spelling is just a minor thing. But what about the words that have slowly crept into my vocabulary, replacing others? It's a rubbish bin, not a trash can or garbage can.
I eat aubergines, not eggplants, and chickpeas, not garbanzo beans.
We don't park in a parking lot. It's a car park.
I live in a flat - not an apartment - and I take the lift - not the elevator - to get there.
It's funny. In Canada, when we heard British English, we'd think it was 'grandmother' talk... only old ladies used words like frock, jumper, queue, post, basins, lollies, and biscuits. Now I hear that kind of language around me all the time, and have adopted lots of it. And some of the American English sounds downright cheesy to me. Words like cookie (biscuits!), candy (sweets!), mail (post!) make me cringe! Silly.
I'm sure a few weeks back in Canada will Americanise Americanize me again.
But I'm going to have to go along with my British mates and insist on just one thing.
It's not soccer. It's football.
