Canadian English

Canadian raising is a phological process that changes the pronunciation of the diphthongs /aɪ/ and /eɪ/.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

Canadian rising is a distinctive trait of the Canadian English variety, although the same phenomenon might be present in other varieties of English. It involves raising the diphthongs /aɪ/ and /aʊ/, which only occurs before the voiceless obstruents /p/, /t/, /k/, /f/, /θ/, and /s/.

In Canadian English the post vocalic /r/ is retained.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

Canadian as well as General American English is rhotic and keeps the /r/ sound in word-final position and before consonants, e.g. barber / ˈbα:rbәr/, as opposed to BE in which /r/ is realized only prevocalically, thus in BE /ˈbα:bә/.

In Canadian English the /j/ sound in words like ‘news’, ‘student’, and ‘tuesday’ is retained.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

The /j/ sound in words like ‘news’, ‘student’, and ‘tuesday’ is dropped.

Canadians would say /nu:z/, /stu:dnt/, and /tu:zdei/.

In Canadian English, the intervocalic /t/ realized as an alveolar flap [t].

• True

• False

Answer explanation

In both Canadian and American English, it can only occur if the /t/ is between two vowels, and as long as the second vowel is not stressed, such as in the word matter. The word was pronounced with an alveolar flap: /t̬/ sound. This feature might make the pair matter – madder homophones.

The characteristic Canadian -eh? tag is used only to request confirmation.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

This feature can be used to request confirmation, during narratives, and as an exclamation mark. Its frequency of use has been on the rise in the last couple of years; however, it is not listed in the dictionary of Canadianisms. It may have a similar meaning and use to the American English -right?, but it can't be used interchangebly. E.g.

• -You have a new dog, eh? / right?

• - I have a new dog, eh? / right?

Canadian spelling shows the retention of the -u in words like "colour" and "favour", which is the result of the influence of British English.

• True

• False

The words "loonie", "toonie", and "toque" are Canadianisms.

• True

• False

In Canadian spelling, the -re ending and the -ize ending are preferred. This fact shows the influence of American English. 

• True

• False

Answer explanation

The -re spelling in words such as "theatre" and "centre" is British English spelling. This fact shows us the struggle between American rules of spelling and British rules of spelling.