Why do Canadians get mad when us Americans talk about Canadian accents?

Question

Every time on Yahoo Answers, some one talks about a Canadian accent, some Canadian will answer and get all mad. "WE DON'T HAVE AN ACCENT YOU STUPID AMERICAN"

Sheesh lol. What's the big deal? Some Canadians DO have an accent, and it's also called Canadian raising, because some Canadians do say about in a way that it sounds like "aboot". There is a Wikipedia article on it:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_raising

I don't see what the big deal is, I mean we have accents in the US too, especially in the south.

By the way, I'm not saying all Canadians have the Canadian Raising, but lot's do. But Canadians from Ontario don't seem to have it.

Answer 1

To them, you are the one who talks with an accent because they hear everyone around them speak the same way. The reality is, we all have accents. However, there is a standard that is pushed for when training someone to eliminate their accent. It is the moderated way of speaking that you will see on national news. That would be considered the closest to not having an accent.

Answer 2

Personally I don't get mad when my Canadian accent is picked out and commented on. I live in the US but am very proud to be from Canada and don't really want to be confused or thought of as an American. Don't get me wrong, I like American's as individuals and have many, many great friends here BUT as a whole country collectively I do not agree with many of the values or ideas Americans seem to have.
I only wish my Canadian accent wasn't going away now. Since I have lived here for many years I am picking up the Southern drawl and after a few more years my Canadian accent might be gone all together. :-(

Answer 3

I don`t get offended, I have a Frenglish (½ French ½ English) accent.
I've noticed that some people are very touchy about their accents--not only Canadians. I`ve heard Australians, Brits, Americans and Japanese folks all claim they did not have an accent when of course everyone has an accent.
Personally I like all kinds of accents; I think they lend an exotic air to the speaker.

Answer 4

Canadians are NOT Americans, and I for one get very insulted when people say that. There many differences, some of them quite subtle. E.g., the USA was formed in large part by ardent Protestant Reformers seeking religious freedom. Canada was formed by Roman Catholics (in French Canada), and Anglicans for the rest, who are very similar to Catholics. While this was long ago, that hard Protestant vs Catholic/soft Protestant difference can still be seen int he cultures of each country. The USA is a melting pot of culture, while Canada is a collage. They end up being quite different. We certainly speak differently; while travelling in England, most people knew I was Canadian, not American, just b the way I spoke. Canadians are much more respectful of authority - we never had any revolutions, or civil wars. We did have an attempt at one - it was a bar fight, and the main principle person missed it, as he had slept in. End of revolution.

Answer 5

To the Americans, we seem to clip our words, not draw them out, which give us our 'accent'. And, for some reason, we seem to say 'eh?' a lot. (pronounces 'ay').

As in the States, the accents differ from area to area, notably in Newfoundland where the people seem to have a mix of Scottish, Irish, British and European mixed in with their English. On the West Coast, the folks are a little more laid back and talk more slowly. On the Prairies, they also have a unique way of speaking.

And, of course, we like to think that WE don't have accents but everyone else does!

Answer 6

I worked for a call center, in Brantford ON and we dealt with Americans for cellphones, MSN Internet and MCI telephone services. I constantly was asked, are you Canadian, the accent crack was alway there.

Although we did get along better with them especially when doing Technical Support, they felt we were more understanding, and more experience. Some times we even got a good comment and an understanding thank you for our efforts.

Answer 7

I'm from Ontario, and I love having an accent. We sound so....refined when we visit the US, and in some parts, I've been asked if I'm British. On the other hand, when I go to the UK, I've been asked if I'm Irish. I don't get offended. I love it. Canadian accents sound different to everyone, mainly because there is English & French accents, and they are mixtures of every other English & French speaking country. Canada is very diverse--there isn't really ONE Canadian accent. For example, the people from Newfoundland sound very very Irish, whereas the people from Alberta sound totally different. Those in Ontario sound similar to SOME New York accents (the minor ones) and those in Quebec sound like they're from France. I suggest you visit and see for yourself.

Cheerio,
Kate

Answer 8

EVERYONE has an accent. It only sounds unusual to you because it is different from you own. And Canada is a huge country... there are many different accents... just like there are many different accents in the United States. And guess what... alot of them sound silly to us, just like we may sound silly to you. Speaking on my own behalf only, it seems as if many --not all-- Americans look down on Canadians as sort of the stupid, weak, unsophisticated cousin who lives up in the sticks. So I am sensitive to comparisons with the U.S. and to a never-ending lack of knowledge on America's part of its northern neighbors.

Answer 9

Everyone where ever you go has a slang or speaks different.. Some people are just sensitive aboot it. I Live in Canada myself and we don't all talk like that, just depends on where you go eh. =P

Answer 10

I met a Canadian guy at the beach and that's ALL we talked about.. they don't care.

They think we talk funny too.