Weird Canadian Words: How to Speak Canadian

Naomi Brun is a freelance writer and a book reviewer for The Hamilton
Spectator.

The Great Canadian Stories series focuses on widely appealing elements
of Canadian folklore and history. As part of the collection, Weird
Canadian Words deals with the development of some of the more
distinctive elements of Canadian English.

Structured like a dictionary, Weird Canadian Words alphabetizes each
entry, then explains how the word or expression came into the language.
If applicable, the author also indicates how a word is used regionally.
Men’s briefs, for example, are called gitch in Ontario, but the terms
gaunch and gonch are common in Alberta and British Columbia.

Some Canadian attempts at political correctness are detailed in this
book. During the 1970s, for instance, Canadian Aboriginals sought a
less-offensive label than Indian, which, after all, came about due to a
mistake on the part of Christopher Columbus. The more accurate First
Nations was deemed a suitable replacement, and quickly became the
preferred term.

Weird Canadian Words also identifies some Canadian inventions.
Financial innovations, such as the loonie, toonie, and GST, have found
their way into the book, as have a few culinary masterpieces; Nanaimo
Bars and Beaver Tails (quick-baked dough) are certainly well loved
across the country and beyond, but Poutine (french fries topped with
fresh cheese curds and covered with hot gravy) and Screech (rum in
Newfoundland) have a more regional draw.

Weird Canadian Words is a fun and informative addition to anyone’s
library. Being a mere 142 pages, it certainly isn’t an exhaustive
dictionary of Canadian English, but it does provide a good sample of
uniquely Canadian words that are in everyday use.