Canadians really DO talk like that eh!

[Taverner]

Just spent a weekend with three friends from Calgary. We knew them from our Peace Corps days - they were in the Canadian equivalent, CUSO.

Anyway - I don't remember their accents being this thick, but everything ended on a rising tone...like they were asking a question...only it wasn't...

And lots of 'Ya's and 'Youbetchya's, and with every sentence ending in eh.

Lots to talk aboot.

[raccoon]

1. I think the "aboot" is the litmus test. nt

[pagerbear]

2. Don't you be hatin' on my Canadian buds, eh?

I loves me some Canadians!

[billyskank]

3. For what it's worth

while I was in Canada, I don't recall anybody ending a sentence with eh, nor did anybody say aboot.

[querelle]

4. Thank You

I'm a Canadian and have never said "eh" or "aboot". Nor have I ever heard those things said in my day to day interactions with others. Perhaps it's western Canadian thing (I live in Ontario) but it's generalisation none the less. Don't all "Merkins" say "y'all"?

Q

[GirlinContempt]

It's not western that I've ever noticed.

Well, maybe Sask? Only cause I haven't spent much time there, I don't really know. Manitobans, BCers and Albertans that I know sure don't talk like that.

[billyskank]

5. I believe all Americans do say "y'all"

and all Englishmen are either cockneys or upper class twits. :D

[meegbear]

6. Yes we do say that, y'all ...

has the Ice Palace melted because of global warming yet?

[BlameCanada12]

9. I live in Ontario as well. It's true - we say 'eh' all the time.

it took someone else to point it out to me, but if you really, really listen, we say it an awful lot. I don't get the 'aboot' thing though - I've never said that in my life or heard any Canadians say it other than 'about'...

But, yeah, we do say 'eh' a lot. Weird.

[TZ]

10. I don't know about that..

I've been to Toronto and its vicinity and I heard an awful lot of "eh's" at the end of sentences that sounded like questions sometimes, in the two trips I have been there. I actually thought the "aboot" thing was more American Great Lakes (Minnesota et al).
I am not from the south (mid-atlantic) but I do say y'all sometimes myself:)

[ScreamingMeemie]

7. ...

:yourock:

I live across the bridge from Canada. I don't notice a huge prevalence of that...only on shows spoofing Canadians for the most part. It's like thinking all Midwesterners talk flat. :grr:

:hi: :hug: :loveya:

[billyskank]

8. Hey MrsG!

:D

:hug: :loveya:

:hi:

[pokerfan]

12. To my ears it's not "aboot"

I've spent a fair amount of time north of the border (mostly B.C.) and it's more like "aboat." Applies to similar words like out, shout, south, etc.

It's subtle but it's there. Tune into the Stanley Cup tonight and you'll probably hear it.

This is not meant to be disparaging to my neighbors to my immediate north. I'm sure our pronunciation (abowt) sounds a little funny to them.

Oh yeah, Go Sens!

[ironflange]

11. I think "eh?" is an Eastern Canada thing

I'm in Alberta. I've really only known one person who did the "eh" thing, and believe me, it drove me nuts. Every frigging sentence! Anyway, turns out he was from Montreal, the English end. Mrs. Ironflange's family is from Ontario, so she picked up Trawna accent from her folks while growing up all over the map. She denies even having an accent, but to me it's very clear, especially in words like bank and thank, which come out as benk and thenk.

[Guava Jelly]

13. I have heard "Aboot"

I'm just sayen.
I thought it was kind of cool :)