As a Canadian, I find this funny

JimJamJamie · 2012-09-16T19:01:41+00:00

Scotland here - we'd like our joke back please.

kidsareNSFL · 2012-09-16T18:32:18+00:00

As a Canadian, I've never heard anyone talk like that except Americans.

daStronksie · 2012-09-16T19:28:25+00:00

For the first time ever, I've seen content on reddit that my mother has already posted on facebook.

Get your shit together reddit... it's supposed to be the other way around.

skullturf · 2012-09-16T13:39:57-07:00

Hi, Canadian living in the US here. I've studied linguistics and I've been told I have a fairly good ear for accents.

(1) Yes, Canadians say "about" differently from Americans.

(2) No, Canadians don't say "aboot". The "aboot" spelling is a very imperfect attempt to capture a sound that doesn't occur in most American dialects. The spelling "aboat" would be closer, but still not perfect.

Here's the difference. In a standard American accent, when you say "house", it sounds exactly like the word "how", followed immediately by an S sound.

If you listen closely to the "ow" sound in "how", it's a diphthong -- two vowels in succession. It starts out something like the A in "hat". Imagine that you start saying "hat" but change your mind partway through, and say something like "ha--ooh", but sped up.

The Canadian diphthong in "house" and "about" starts with the vowel sound from "hut", not the one from "hat". Start saying "hut", but change your mind partway through. "Huh-oose", but sped up. That's how the people I grew up with say "house".

People in other parts of Canada say it differently still, and start with the vowel from "heck". Something like "Heh-oose", but sped up.

If you're Canadian, listen to yourself say "house" and "how", or "about" and "a bough". Do you say exactly the same vowel each time? You probably don't. You probably engage in "Canadian raising" before the S and T sounds in "house" and "about".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_raising

TL;DR: Yes, pronunciation differences are real, such as those between Canadians and Americans. However, it is hard to accurately capture the difference simply by replacing a few letters.

EDIT: I should probably also point out that no statement about people's accents will be true for 100% of the population. There will always be some individuals that don't fit the pattern for a variety of reasons. For example, it may be the case in Canada that younger speakers, and/or people in big cities, and/or people with a more international background, may sound less stereotypically Canadian. Also, some Americans (in places like northern Minnesota, or Michigan's upper peninsula) may sound a bit more Canadian in some ways.

GroinSniper · 2012-09-16T11:24:31-07:00

As a Canadian living in the US, I'm always correcting Americans who think we talk that way. Most of my friends say "a-boat".

triceracocks · 2012-09-16T13:24:36-07:00

It's "aboat" not "aboot".

DoubtOfAShadow · 2012-09-16T18:18:02+00:00

*pulls on Tuque*

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!

xnerdyxrealistx · 2012-09-16T19:17:41+00:00

Relevant

Villain_of_Brandon · 2012-09-16T20:16:46+00:00

As a Canadian, you would know we don't say that. and that stereotype annoying, like all stereotypes.

ErikDangerFantastic · 2012-09-16T20:17:43+00:00

I always thought this was a retarded stereotype. I heard it repeated for years on the internet (I got on early, back in the good old windows 3.1 days) and just considered the whole idea ridiculous. Because I know how I say the word about.

Now whenever I'm on skype with new people, someone will invariably interrupt me to say 'haha! you said aboot! you must be Canadian!'

...

So, fuck.

wallplant · 2012-09-16T18:48:00+00:00

As a western Canadian i don't find this funny.

Sorry

Zhumanchu · 2012-09-16T19:43:13+00:00

Western Canadian here.

I've met some people from Georgia, Texas, etc, who made teasing comments about this all the time (most were just baiting me, but some legit thought I was saying aboot).

What I say: "a-bowt"
What Southern Americans say: "a-baaaoooooowwwwwwwat"

Therefore, relatively, "a-bowt" sounds like "a-boot" because I don't strangle my vowels.

tl;dr: its relative

Having said that, the only really pronounced Western Canadian accents I've heard come out of Saskatchewan.

EatDiveFly · 2012-09-16T19:52:00+00:00

I'm a Canadian who works with Americans and I'm constantly baffled by how they think "a boot" sounds like "about". Lazy ears, I think. The distinction, I think comes the relatively different sounds we make when either of us (US v CAN) make when making the OW sound. Americans hold their mouths wider when enunciating some sounds. OW becomes AH and conversely Canadians, use a smaller mouth and it becomes OWuu. Americans say "ARE you coming to ARE house". Canadians: ARE you coming to OWr hOWse.

As a son of a Scottish mother, i for example think Groundskeeper Willie of the Simpsons has the most embarrassingly bad Scottish accent I've ever heard, yet most Americans i know think he nails it.

It's all perception I suppose.

AsuranSyncretic · 2012-09-16T20:28:26+00:00

Wrong subreddit, buddy. You want /r/funny

MemeBot420 · 2012-09-16T20:51:11+00:00

why is this on r/pics and not r/StupidContent ?

Machesis · 2012-09-16T17:49:05+00:00

I don't remember hearing 'aboot' in the Western provinces when I lived there. I hear it sometimes in the maritimes, usually from newfies. Maybe it's more of an Ontario thing? I've only been there a few times.

1-800-Waffles · 2012-09-16T19:24:19+00:00

I'm from Alberta and I find this hilarious. Bizarro has always been too funny, it's in my paper every morning.

throwmeaway76 · 2012-09-16T19:42:49+00:00

Was he a little guy, kinda funny looking?

waseldo · 2012-09-16T19:43:10+00:00

Is Canadian english accent much different from Americans ?

s0werkr0wt · 2012-09-16T19:51:00+00:00

as a trailer park fan i find this funny too!

silversapp · 2012-09-16T19:58:15+00:00

Am I the only one who noticed that stick of dynamite on the bottom left? This looks extremely dangerous for them.

PhotobombSquad · 2012-09-16T20:22:28+00:00

I'm starting to think that people on Reddit just claim to be from different places so their posts aren't considered racist.

Edawwg · 2012-09-16T13:23:05-07:00

anyone else see jesus in the top right corner?

hijessicarose · 2012-09-16T20:25:20+00:00

If you don't get the joke, I am sorry.

goofygoobarock · 2012-09-16T20:31:00+00:00

No screenshots, or pictures with added or superimposed text. This includes image macros, comics, info-graphics and most diagrams. Text (e.g. a URL) serving to credit the original author is exempt.

Literally the first rule.

mrizzerdly · 2012-09-16T20:31:24+00:00

I was with a bunch of american friends, and they were asking me if I said aboot and things of that nature, when a guy from Louisiana who wasn't a part of the convo comes and asks: "hey guys, what are you talking aboot?"

dizavin · 2012-09-16T20:35:09+00:00

how is being a stereotype working out for you?

GeneralMillss · 2012-09-16T20:44:39+00:00

How do you get a hundred Canadains to jump out of a pool?

Yell, "everyone out of the pool!"

Source: I'm Canadian.

unholyrage · 2012-09-16T20:47:07+00:00

OP had to say "As a Canadian" because Reddit is soft and they'll throw a hissy fit if you offend anyone or anything.

Thats_Good_Stupid · 2012-09-16T13:47:26-07:00

as a as a as a as a as a as a as a as a. . .

martypanic · 2012-09-16T13:48:25-07:00

Next time post to /r/funny or /r/comics.

MirriMaz · 2012-09-16T20:50:30+00:00

It's called "canadian raising". It's actually /əbʌʊt/

partialdread · 2012-09-16T20:52:45+00:00

if you want to hear a Canadian say ABOOT you have to go to Middle Bay, Quebec, or maybe Salmon Bay

Pangael · 2012-09-16T20:52:56+00:00

It's 'aboot' in Scotland and in the Virginia Tidewater.

zenith66 · 2012-09-16T20:56:47+00:00

No one linked to this yet? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WcOcgc3WN4

vadergeek · 2012-09-16T20:57:46+00:00

"Not sure I agree with you a hundred percent on your police work, there, Lou."

It seems like our American perception of the Canadian accent is basically the one from Fargo, even though I've never actually heard a Canadian talk and thought "wow, that guy sounds really canadian in his accent".

ZephyrX24 · 2012-09-16T21:02:17+00:00

I find it funny that there a live stick of dynamite in the bottom left.

JurassicParkerr · 2012-09-16T21:02:32+00:00

As a Canadian, why is there dynamite in the snow?

Trepper · 2012-09-16T14:04:08-07:00

Why is there also a lit stick of dynamite and a slice of pie in the snow?

Ironsmith77 · 2012-09-16T21:06:16+00:00

Americans still think we say "aboot" instead of "about"?! Yeesh! Where's that slowpoke meme? I got an idea...

FobiaOne · 2012-09-16T21:16:29+00:00

Yeah what the fuck is the racist bullshit

MyiPadisDirty · 2012-09-16T21:17:20+00:00

whats up with the dynamite in the lower left corner?

rudiegonewild · 2012-09-16T21:17:31+00:00

/r/canada would probably enjoy this

fanboy_of_nothing · 2012-09-16T21:18:32+00:00

As someone who routinely makes fun of Canadians, I find this funny.

faymao · 2012-09-16T21:30:28+00:00

As a Canadian, I'm sorry.

Steve_The_Bandit · 2012-09-16T21:31:38+00:00

As a Canadian, this is still one of my favorite commercials

BrCaMu · 2012-09-16T21:36:53+00:00

Only stupid Maritimers say it like that! They're Canada's rednecks.

Tier4 · 2012-09-16T21:38:10+00:00

I've never met a Canadian that talks like that, ever. I live on the west coast.

SailingMaktub · 2012-09-16T21:46:29+00:00

Eh?

Fenixx117 · 2012-09-16T21:47:59+00:00

Canadians say "Eh" like the British say "innit" and we both laugh at "Y'all" 'Murikans

Sariel007 · 2012-09-16T21:50:48+00:00

Time.

Vranak · 2012-09-16T21:52:19+00:00

As a Western Canadian who's only been east of Calgary once: do people actually say aboot, anywhere?

umyrinbrah · 2012-09-16T14:54:04-07:00

Reminded me of this;

http://youtu.be/yR0lWICH3rY

mcdeaglesandwich · 2012-09-16T21:56:31+00:00

As someone who watched Kids in the Hall, I find this funny.

HmmmNol · 2012-09-16T21:56:56+00:00

What if I told you...

...The way Canadians and Americans talk isn't that different at all...

kaankeherre · 2012-09-16T22:02:17+00:00

"Soldiers! You came here to die!"

"No, yesterdie, actually".

ChloStick · 2012-09-16T22:12:02+00:00

As a Canadian, I know that we don't say aboot.

dikky · 2012-09-16T22:20:20+00:00

life long canadian and have never heard anyone say aboot

paelf8 · 2012-09-16T23:02:04+00:00

It's funny. Same accent abounds in Tidewater Virginia and other locations thanks to Scots and Irish immigration.

hsfrey · 2012-09-16T23:46:37+00:00

It's not pronounced 'aboot'.

It's pronounced like 'a boat'!

MrHashish · 2012-09-16T11:30:33-07:00

As a boot, I find this very offensive.

deja-vu-comment · 2012-09-16T18:10:07+00:00

none of us talk like that but i will admit i do say eh, we're not as bad as texans though

.

RICH_LITTLE · 2012-09-16T18:01:47+00:00

none of us talk like that but i will admit i do say eh, we're not as bad as texans though

draiman · 2012-09-16T20:25:17+00:00

A friend of mine was on vacation in Canada when she a little kid. They went to a restaurant and the waitress said "your food will be ready in aboot 5 mins." my friend goes "its coming on a boat!" She got the weirdest look from the waitress.

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