Friday, May 28, 2010

A New Word That Outed Me

After living here in the States for 12+ years, having someone ask me if I was Canadian because of my accent happens less and less frequently.  Every once in a while, however - a new word will pop up and my conversation partner will falter and say, "You're Canadian, aren't you?"  Funny how it almost comes out as an accusation with some people.  In any case - the word?

grout

I can't tell any difference in how I say it versus how Andrew says it - but apparently that one word was enough to paint me as Canadian.

5 comments:

kingshearte said...

It's probably that "out" sound. Out, about, grout, which apparently to them, sound like oot, aboot, and presumably groot.

I think they're crazy.

tara said...

Hmmm. I will have to ask around here to see if i say it differently.

Kaye said...

I'd be more curious to hear you say the word "process." The out/oot thing I would hear in Michigan...so you could always "pass" as a Great Laker. Ha ha!

kemtee said...

Southerners seem to do the same thing. At least, the natives around here do. But what do I know? They already think I talk funny. Lady at HSH's bus stop made mention of that first time she ever met me. "You aren't from around here, are you…?"

Shan said...

That's so weird. I totally can't hear the "oo" sound at all, except from a Maritimer. And even then, it's more of a flattening of the vowel, not a true "oo".

Anyway, the round American vowels sound odd to me. Like "grA-OWt". I can't even figure out how to spell it properly.