Spotlight on Canadian English

Is it “practised” or “practiced”? What type of building do we mean by “cottage”? With the last print dictionary for Canadian English having been published in 2004, the answer isn’t always easy to find. Antidote lexicographer Rachel Stone and Queen’s University PhD candidate and Strathy researcher Emma Ferrett sat down to discuss the pitfalls and opportunities that this dearth of dictionaries represents for Canadians.

First, what makes a word Canadian?

Emma Ferrett: It’s important to make the distinction between a Canadian English word, meaning an English word we would expect any English speaker to reasonably understand, and Canadianisms, which are words that are distinctly Canadian, like “toque” and “toonie”, and which speakers of other varieties of English wouldn’t necessarily understand.

Rachel Stone: The context in which words are used also helps define them as Canadianisms. Some words originating from elsewhere might be now used only in Canada, or they could be shared between the UK and a specific region of Canada, for example. Those of us used to speaking Canadian English might not always know which words are uniquely Canadian, so it’s useful to be aware of these specificities, especially when addressing a global audience who might not have the same understanding of these words.

Why is Canadian English relevant today?

EF: Language is about identity. It’s no longer enough to say that Canadian English is just a blend of British English and American English. It is its own distinct variety, and we need to legitimize it as such, apart from other varieties of English.

RS: There are millions who speak and write in Canadian English and may appreciate seeing their linguistic specificity reflected. These differences become noticeable especially when Canadian media goes global. For example, the use of the term “revenue agency” in Schitt’s Creek or the word “cottage” in Heated Rivalry presents different realities than non-Canadian audiences might expect. In Canada, a cottage is not exclusively a small and cozy dwelling; it’s used to refer to a vacation home, no matter its size, and in some regions, it even means a detached, two-storey house in the city. When something Canadian gains in popularity, this unique and essential component of our identity becomes very visible to others.

The last print dictionary of Canadian English—the Canadian Oxford—was published in 2004. What changes have we observed in the language since then?

EF: That represents over 20 years of linguistic changes. Our reality has transformed in this time and so has the language we use. There are many recent neologisms that reflect the world we live in, as well as words that we no longer think of as new but that didn’t exist back then. Furthermore, dictionaries are subjective; they are defined by their editors. The 2004 Canadian Oxford paints a picture of what Canada was like then. But a lot of the language from that time has since been deemed offensive and potentially harmful.

RS: I believe that, as lexicographers, we have an opportunity to help people be in on current conversations and know what’s happening in the world and how those changes are reflected in the language we use. There are new realities in Canada, and there is a unique vocabulary that stems from them.

In the absence of an official print dictionary, who do we look to as arbiters of Canadian English today?

RS: There are some Canadian organizations that publish style and writing guides. Tools like Antidote’s corrector, which has been available in English since 2015, can be used to revise a text and make sure it follows specific spelling varieties like Canadian standards. Antidote’s dictionaries and language guides are global resources, documenting both Canadian and other regional varieties of English. But I can see why there is an appetite from writers, translators and editors for something entirely dedicated to Canadian English.

EF: Oftentimes, we need to “Frankenstein” the information relevant to us, taking it from various sources, some of which don’t even target Canadian English, and assembling it into a patchwork of answers. This often causes confusion for writers and especially readers. Sometimes, people resort to writing standards of a different linguistic variety, leading readers to wonder why American or British spelling is used in a Canadian context. A comprehensive, accessible dictionary that Canadians can turn to, we hope, will reduce confusion for writers, editors, teachers and language learners.

Are there any resources in the works that aim to address this gap?

EF: I’m part of the team working on the forthcoming Canadian English Dictionary (CED). We take an inclusive approach and want to make sure not to add more harm. Non-traditional linguistic sources, like the language used by marginalized communities or on social media, are as important and relevant as print media. If an English word is used in some part of Canada, we want to at least think about its inclusion in the dictionary. The CED seeks to provide an up-to-date resource that focuses on how English is used across Canada.

RS: That’s going to be such a useful resource, especially given how encompassing it will be. And it will complement Antidote’s dictionaries nicely, too! My colleagues and I also seek to reflect language as it is used. We cover British, Canadian, US and occasionally Australian and New Zealand spellings, meanings and uses. When a word requires it, we include a note explaining its contexts and considerations. Our audience then gets to make a choice on how to use it based on the information we have provided them.

Some Notable Canadianisms

Stone and Ferrett have picked some Canadian terms that, while not widely documented, deserve some attention. These Canadianisms showcase how language constantly evolves and why it’s fascinating to track these linguistic innovations.

Canadians have a valuable resource to look forward to. The Canadian English Dictionary is being published progressively online, with a print edition set to appear once the digital edition is finished. Meanwhile, Antidote is here to help correct your text and enrich your vocabulary with its built-in dictionaries and language guides, no matter which variety of English you write in.