Canadian Maps and Graphics

[kwoldtimer]

Originally Posted by Acajack

I'd say "espadrille" for sneakers/running shoes is very common in Quebec too. That's what my kids and all of their friends call them. And when we get notes from school about what's needed for gym class, it's always the word "espadrille" that is used. Signage in shops also reflects this.
As you probably know, in France an "espadrille" isn't that at all. It generally refers to a type of light canvas footwear. Like you might wear on a summer
day.

In France, sneakers/running shoes/espadrilles are known as "baskets".

The slow and subtle internationalization of the French spoken in Quebec has led "baskets" to gain some traction here, but it's still not what most people say. Even if most everyone is familiar with the term.

As in English - a canvas upper with a braided rope sole.

[Nathan]

Originally Posted by Laceoflight

It's always more convenient to ignore that a part of the country is francophone. Our obvious (or not-so obvious) answers would have been different, for the most part. That would have made the maps look more canadiennes:

Liqueur || Dépanneur || Tuque || Broyeur || Crayons de couleur (or à colorier) || Kraft dinner (after 1995) or Macaroni au fromage (generic) || Divan || Cônes orange || Souper || Chalet || Running shoes (pronounce : rénille chouzes in the worst case) or just Souliers || Coton ouaté. Hoodie is becoming something, but that wasn't the case before || Kickball || Quelqu’un qui s’est levé du mauvais pied || Décalques or Papier transfert (we don’t really have a common word for decal) || ca-ra-mel (pronounce : kaʁamɛl) || Papier de construction or Papier bristol (not the same thing) || Notes || Ustensiles or Couverts || T'as-rond-Teau (pronounce : tɔ.ʁɔ̃.to) || Gouttières || Le compte d’hydro or just L’électricité || Élastique.

In some ways it does make sense to exclude Francophones from this type of analysis though. Yes, Francophones make up a significant proportion of Canada, but since French is a completely different language, you won't get the same "value" in the type of survey that was done. It's not an effort to snub, but rather a conscious choice to look at how the English used in different places varies. It can of course be flavoured by other languages, but that's part of the regional "English" comparison; what different dynamics in each region have affected the English that's used? Dépanneur is a great example of that; it's so prevalent that it's used in English discourse.

One would pretty much want to do a completely separate survey that involves Francophones from different parts of the country to get at a similar concept (which I think would be interesting too).

[lio45]

Originally Posted by Nathan

In some ways it does make sense to exclude Francophones from this type of analysis though.

Absolutely, but then I'd have presented the graphics differently, leaving most of Quebec blank or blacked out, with a round patch of color in southern Quebec intended to represent our Anglos.

Had they done it that way they'd always have been correct, rather than occasionally totally wrong as they've been - for example, on the kickball one.

[Nathan]

Originally Posted by lio45

Absolutely, but then I'd have presented the graphics differently, leaving most of Quebec blank or blacked out, with a round patch of color in southern Quebec intended to represent our Anglos.

Had they done it that way they'd always have been correct, rather than occasionally totally wrong as they've been - for example, on the kickball one.

There are likely enough English speakers outside of the specific concentration zones to fill out the map of the province though... By the same definition as you have, you'd probably want to black out much of Northern Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, and Quebec, as well as the Northwest Territories, and Nunavut for both English and French comparisons as the sparse populations would more likely use native languages like Cree, Ojibway, Dene, or Inuktitut...

[Metro-One]

Those are really cool.

My family actually perfectly fit into each one.

In BC we also tend to call major power lines "hydro-lines"

[lio45]

BTW, "light bill" is a dead giveaway people are burning stuff in their houses to heat themselves in winter. We'd never, ever call it like that. Anyone who would say that would get weird looks.

[kwoldtimer]

I have to question "Kraft Dinner/KD" as the generic term for "macaroni and cheese/mac and cheese". I have never heard it used that way and would find it odd if I did.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by kwoldtimer

I have to question "Kraft Dinner/KD" as the generic term for "macaroni and cheese/mac and cheese". I have never heard it used that way and would find it odd if I did.

In my experience it's definitely what people use for the cheap stuff with powder cheese and straight tubular pasta. Whether the brand is Kraft or not. (I've noticed that Americans have the same product made by Kraft but people down there don't call it Kraft Dinner or KD. I think they say Kraft Mac and Cheese or something...)

Back in Canada, a nicer macaroni and cheese (like your mom used to make) with curved macaroni pasta, real tomato sauce and spices, and real cheese, you'd obviously never refer to as KD or Kraft Dinner. It's not even the same colour.

[kwoldtimer]

Originally Posted by Acajack

In my experience it's definitely what people use for the cheap stuff with powder cheese and straight tubular pasta. Whether the brand is Kraft or not. (I've noticed that Americans have the same product made by Kraft but people down there don't call it Kraft Dinner or KD. I think they say Kraft Mac and Cheese or something...)

Back in Canada, a nicer macaroni and cheese (like your mom used to make) with curved macaroni pasta, real tomato sauce and spices, and real cheese, you'd obviously never refer to as KD or Kraft Dinner. It's not even the same colour.

"Kraft Dinner" is a uniquely Canadian thing, afaik. I've often wondered if it doesn't reflect the fact that macaroni and cheese is often a meal in Canada, while it is more of a side dish in the USA?

But I agree, I would have received a "look" from my mother, had I ever referred to her macaroni and cheese as "KD"!

[niwell]

Originally Posted by kwoldtimer

"Kraft Dinner" is a uniquely Canadian thing, afaik. I've often wondered if it doesn't reflect the fact that macaroni and cheese is often a meal in Canada, while it is more of a side dish in the USA?

Speaking of this, I have definitely received "sides" of macaroni and cheese in the U.S. that are larger than what I'd hope most people consider a meal.

[lio45]

Originally Posted by Acajack

... you'd obviously never refer to as KD or Kraft Dinner. It's not even the same colour.

Yep - it has to be neon orange to qualify. (Regardless of the brand - the "real" Kraft brand or its supermarket chains' own home-brand clones.)

[Metro-One]

I never knew how regional garburator was (though now i see that my spell check doesn't recognize it, haha)

Another BC area word is "Parkade" for a multi level or underground parking area.

[niwell]

Originally Posted by Metro-One

I never knew how regional garburator was (though now i see that my spell check doesn't recognize it, haha)

Another BC area word is "Parkade" for a multi level or underground parking area.

Parkade is definitely Canada-wide. For some weird reason they use the term in South Africa as well, but as far as I can tell nowhere else in the anglosphere does.

[MonctonRad]

It's KD and parkade in the Maritimes. Garburator works here too.

[kwoldtimer]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

It's KD and parkade in the Maritimes. Garburator works here too.

"Garburator" was a brand of garbage disposal, was it not? Sort of like "Kleenex" as the generic name for paper tissues?

[isaidso]

When I moved to Ontario I thought people were talking about their water bill when they said 'hydro'.

[SignalHillHiker]

It's still parking garage here, but parkade is making inroads (it's the official name of one newly-built one, etc.).

[SignalHillHiker]

I don't think I've ever seen a garbage disposal in person, and I have been in relatives homes of every class. I know what they are from television, those things in the drain that roar and sometimes chew people's arms off. I think most people here just use the sink's upturned stop to filter the water and then shake what the stop collects into the garbage. That's what I do anyway.

[Boris2k7]

Originally Posted by SignalHillHiker

I don't think I've ever seen a garbage disposal in person, and I have been in relatives homes of every class. I know what they are from television, those things in the drain that roar and sometimes chew people's arms off. I think most people here just use the sink's upturned stop to filter the water and then shake what the stop collects into the garbage. That's what I do anyway.

Well, you are cordially invited to Calgary to take a peek at my garburator.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by SignalHillHiker

I don't think I've ever seen a garbage disposal in person, and I have been in relatives homes of every class. I know what they are from television, those things in the drain that roar and sometimes chew people's arms off. I think most people here just use the sink's upturned stop to filter the water and then shake what the stop collects into the garbage. That's what I do anyway.

I just moved into a house that has one... it's the first time I've ever had to deal with a garburator. I have no idea how it works... I suppose at some point I should sit down and read the manual.