Feb 26 2008
Canadian Snakeboat
Historically I’ve taken it easy on the United States’ northern cousin, because I didn’t know much about it. I’ve seen numerous comedies making fun of Canada, from the way they talk to their traditions. After I got to know a couple people from “the Great White North,” I realized that those comedies had a lot of it right — but only the endearing parts. I don’t think Canadians (Canadiennes?) are any more likely to mindlessly consume beer than Americans, and I can chalk up funky headwear to the bone-chilling cold. I try not to judge things I haven’t experienced firsthand.
So now, I reach out again to build understanding (or point the finger, as the case may be). Bear with me, there’s a sound clip.
Our son likes Disney’s Toy Story movies, and last Christmas he received a Woody figure about the same size as Andy’s on the big screen (note the urge not to call it a “doll”). Just like the CGI original, this one utters phrases when its string is pulled. The mechanism isn’t authenticate because it starts talking as soon as the string is pulled, rather than after the string is let go, but I’ll forgive that.
What I can’t overlook is Woody’s accent.
One of the phrases is, “There’s a snake in my boot.” I remember this one from the second film, and being somewhat of a ham myself, I sometimes repeat it after Benjamin pulls the string.
And, every time, Benjamin corrects me. “No, Daddy, it’s, ‘There’s a snake in my boat.’”
“But he doesn’t have a boat. He wears boots.”
“But that’s what he says, Daddy.”
The accent is slight enough that I might never have noticed it, but now that Ben pointed it out, I can’t stop hearing it. Some claim that Canadians say, “aboot,” when saying the word, “about,” but I contend that isn’t quite right. In fact, I don’t know how to spell that sound, but it’s a combination of “aboot” and “aboat.”
Now, we all can hear it, because Woody’s “boot” rhymes almost perfectly with the second syllable of “about,” if we’re talking about a Canadian. It’s a conspiracy to get American kids to accept this way of talking.
I’m not saying this will turn into another talking Elmo incident, but just like that case, it inspired me to make a recording, and it’s caused enough consternation that I need input.
Playback should start fairly quickly after clicking the “play” button.
Nah….Ben’s right. He’s got a snake in his boat. He may be wearing BOOTS, but apparently he also has a boat, and that’s where the snake is. Ben’s a genius.
I sat at a table with some Canadians at our annual meeting last month. They definitely have their own unique accent going, and it’s more prevalent with the ones who speak French when they are talking amongst themselves.
I’m always intrigued by different accents.
Take off… ‘eh!
Sounds like a cross between boat and boot to me…
Mindless beer consumption: check (but only on days that end in “Y”.)
Funky headgear: check.
Endearing accent: well, I’m sure we all have our quirks, especially those francophones.
The horrible thing about your Woody recording is that it sounds nothing at all like Woody. Or Tom Hanks. And I do agree that it sounds distinctly different than how he *should* sound on that word. I think it’s a Canadian conspiracy, if you ask me. If you want to undermine a culture, always start with the language.
First we’ll get you saying ‘aboot’, and then it won’t be too long before you end former exclamatory sentences with the “eh?” that transforms everything into an invitation for polite disagreement. Pretty soon your humoUr and laboUr will start sporting extra vowels! Your realize will become realise, and you might even find yourselves watching TV programmes.
Finally, as the ultimate part of the cultural coup, you will pronounce the last letter of the alphabet as “zed”. And THEN how the hell do you teach you kids to sing that song, eh?!
“…T, U, V, W, X, Y and ZED. Now I know my ABCs, next time won’t you sing with me!”
Pretty damned jarring, isn’t it? Doesn’t flow quite as nicely, does it?
Hell yeah. We’re coming. And we’re bringing our back bacon and maple syrup with us.
Those crazy Canucks and their adorable speech patterns…you just want to pinch their frostbitten little cheeks. [/arrogant American];)
I went to junior high with a girl whose family had moved down from Canada. Her father worked for a company called “Three Bouys House Boats” Oh, cruel fate. I’d like to say that we showed mercy on her pronouncation of this phrase…but this was junior high. And I was probably the worst since I thought she was cute.
And Simon is right, the true offense of Ben’s toy is not really Woody’s newly aquired boat…but rather the fact that Woody sound more like Terrence and Phillip than Tom Hanks. I can well imagine that Woody may have journeyed to Canada and picked up an accent…this doesn’t bother me. Heck, it just adds to the mystery of Woody’s travels. But why he should suddenly sound like South Park characters is beyond me.
Moksha, I think I’ve used the Three Buoys House Boats. The Shuswap Lake in the lower interior of British Columbia is THE place to go houseboating for Canadian summers. Been there twice and it makes for a wonderful vacation.
When it comes to that word, though, I pronouce it “boo-ey”.
I have to say that the more east one goes in Canada the more heavy the aboot sounds. I am from Alberta and I have Family in Ontario and it comes out pretty close to aboot. I say about. Other words that I have notice there are couch is like keyouch, car is like Kerr.
I recently had a conversation with an American ( you know who you are) and I didn’t hear any kind of language speaking differences. I don’t know, he may say otherwise but It was all the same to me.
I’m jonesing for some Degrassi action right now.
Ah… the good ol’ days of Snake and Wheels and Joey and the rest of the Degrassi Junior High gang!
I’ve never been able to hear the “aboot/about” difference but then I’m Canadian. I think it is interesting to know that Woody is a “figure” but not a “doll”. It’s good toy companies are “tainting” boys by offering girlie toys to manly boys ;+)