Canadians speak English (and French, but not here in BC). Many Americans think, as I did in my early years in Pennsylvania, that Canadians actually speak the same language then....
I learned in a childhood visit to Sudbury, Ontario (most BC'ers shudder when I say the name of that city. My response always is: "Hey! Alex Trebek came from Sudbury!" ) My aunt married a retired nickel miner (How Sudbury is THAT!?!) We went up sometime in my childhood to visit them in his home town. Side note: Even MORE Canadian, they were snow birds, living in Florida half the year! I realized very quickly that "Eh?" was like the Canadian equivalent of "Aloha", which means all sorts of things.
One time my uncle was struggling to fix some mechanical monster of a thing - maybe it was a log-splitter, I kind of forget - when he told me to go across the street while he tested it. Puzzled a bit, I complied and watched as he rip-roared this thing to life in his garage. Over that loud roar, I vividly remember his broad smile and his shouting of "EH!?!" right before the thing blew up in a billow of smoke. (No injuries, other than pride..)
Another time we were at the little car race track, you know, where you actually drive the things? Whatever you call it... I went to the snack bar and in typical Philly-ish English asked for a "soda". The guy said they didn't have soda - I was stunned and asked what he had : "pop" and I had another lesson in Canadian English. Although, to be fair, most of the US calls it "pop", too. Except for the Southern US, where everything is "coke". *sigh*
Canadian English fascinates me. I even found a Canadian Spelling Dictionary on the web! Fascinating reading, btw!
Other subtle difference include: "Anyways" - I say 'anyway' - How about you? Or, in BC at least, the kids say "pencil crayons" instead of "coloured pencils" (please note the Canadian spelling in the last one!!) It took me a few years to realize that 'pencil crayon' is the English speaking way of saying the French side of the box!
My mother-in-law says 'serviettes' instead of napkins. She's unsuccessfully tried to convert me to saying that. I'm proud to say my kids are hanging in there with 'napkins'!! I have nothing against Canadian English - I just can't stand 'serviettes' for some reason.
Oh, wait, I can't stand the way 'pasta', 'drama' and 'Mazda' are pronounced. Canadians tend to say the first 'a' as a strong short 'a' sound. In the states, the first 'a' is pronounced as a 'schwa' sound. Don't know what a 'schwa' is? Check your local dictionary!! It is for this reason that I will never own a 'Mazda' in Canada. I like Hondas better, anyways.... Oops...
