# Another question about Canada's name **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 23, 2005, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-question-about-canadas-name/305178 "2005-05-23T22:29:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2005, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-question-about-canadas-name/305178/1 "2005-05-23T22:29:54Z")
In French, why is the name of the country “The Canada” in certain constructions, instead of just Canada? For instance, on the banknotes you have “Banque du Canada”, which would be “Bank Of The Canada”, literally translated. And I’m fairly sure one says “Allons au Canada” (“Let’s go to The Canada”) instead of “Allons a Canada”. Since Canada has two official languages, I’m curious as to why the name is constructed differently. Inspired by the concurrent thread [here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=317921). ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2005, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-question-about-canadas-name/305178/2 "2005-05-23T22:36:38Z")
> [@Spectre of Pithecanthropus](#): > > In French, why is the name of the country “The Canada” in certain constructions, instead of just Canada? For instance, on the banknotes you have “Banque du Canada”, which would be “Bank Of The Canada”, literally translated. And I’m fairly sure one says “Allons au Canada” (“Let’s go to The Canada”) instead of “Allons a Canada”. Since Canada has two official languages, I’m curious as to why the name is constructed differently. Simply put, it’s not supposed to be translated literally in those particular examples. It’s just an artifact of construction. The name of Canada in French is, in fact, “Canada.” A much more fascinating linguistic mystery is why Quebec’s provincial motto is “I Remember Myself,” or why French people never thought to come up with words for “seventy,” “eighty,” or “ninety.” Lots of things in old languages don’t make a lot of sense. English has about a zillion of these. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2005, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-question-about-canadas-name/305178/3 "2005-05-23T23:00:00Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > A much more fascinating linguistic mystery is why Quebec’s provincial motto is "I Remember Myself,. I don’t think that one is so mysterious. Many languages use reflexive constructions for nontransitive verbs. For instance, German has non-reflexive _erinnern_ (to remind (someone of something), and reflexive _sich erinnern_, meaning to remember (i.e., to remind oneself). ---
**Author:** ![mnemosyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@mnemosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mnemosyne)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2005, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-question-about-canadas-name/305178/4 "2005-05-24T02:06:48Z")
[nagging voice]The french did come up with words for “seventy”, “eighty” and “ninety” : they are soixante-dix, quatre-vingt and quatre-vingt-dix respectively. The germans number things differently too, saying " one and thirty" " two and thirty" etc. I suspect it isn’t uncommon in other languages either. [/nagging voice] ---
**Author:** ![detop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bcef8e/32.png) [@detop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/detop)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2005, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-question-about-canadas-name/305178/5 "2005-05-24T02:30:44Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > \why French people never thought to come up with words for “seventy,” “eighty,” or “ninety.”\ They do exist in French : _septante_ (70), _octante_ (80) and _nonante_ (90). They are an archaic form that is only found nowadays (I think) in Swiss French. ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2005, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-question-about-canadas-name/305178/6 "2005-05-24T04:18:35Z")
> [@Spectre of Pithecanthropus](#): > > In French, why is the name of the country “The Canada” in certain constructions, instead of just Canada? I think it’s just a result of the fact that French makes far more use of the definite article than English does. In English we can say _I like cats_, but in French the definite article is required: _j’aime les chats_. Similarly, when talking about countries, in English we can say _Canada is a beautiful country_, whereas in French it would have to be: _le Canada est un beau pays_. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2005, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-question-about-canadas-name/305178/7 "2005-05-24T04:51:08Z")
It’s because Canada is officially bilingual, so neither language predominates. In French, the name of a country is preceded by a definite article in the situations that you mention, therefore we use a definite article. If we followed your suggestion, we would be using English grammatical rules in French, thereby giving priority to English. To flip it around, we similarly don’t say: “Bank of _the_ Canada” in English on the banknotes, because that would be using the French grammatical rules in English, giving priority to French. Bear in mind that the construction in French of “à [place name]” means that you’re referring to a city or town or similar place; the construction “à la [place name]” or “au [place name]” means that you’re referring to a country or similar large geographical division, such as a state or province. For example, the sentence: “Je vais aller au Québec” means “I’m going to the Province of Quebec.” The sentence “Je vais aller à Québec” means “I’m going to the City of Quebec.” So the statement “Je vais aller à Canada” would mean “I’m going to a town or city named Canada”, which would be grammatically incorrect if you’re actually referring to the nation of Canada. ---
**Author:** ![Excalibre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@Excalibre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Excalibre)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2005, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-question-about-canadas-name/305178/8 "2005-05-24T18:07:23Z")
> [@Northern Piper](#): > > So the statement “Je vais aller à Canada” would mean “I’m going to a town or city named Canada”, which would be grammatically incorrect if you’re actually referring to the nation of Canada. Right. This is strictly a matter of French grammar - it’s not the same as the way certain countries have “the” in them - the Ukraine and the Sudan being the only ones that come to mind in English (and both countries prefer that the article be omitted.) ---
**Author:** ![Noone\_Special](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/noone_special/32/2863_2.png) [@Noone\_Special](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Noone_Special)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2005, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-question-about-canadas-name/305178/9 "2005-05-24T20:48:00Z")
> [@Northern Piper](#): > > Bear in mind that the construction in French of “à [place name]” means that you’re referring to a city or town or similar place; the construction “à la [place name]” or “au [place name]” means that you’re referring to a country or similar large geographical division, such as a state or province. [Hijack]Except, it seems, for Israel – my French teachers in H.S. told me the we were “the exception to the rule.” None knew _why_ one must say “J’aime la France” and “J’aime les Etats-Unis”, but “J’aime Israel” (without the definite article) Anyone know the **reason** for this exception? [/Hijack] Dani ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2005, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-question-about-canadas-name/305178/10 "2005-05-24T22:09:27Z")
> [@Noone Special](#): > > Except, it seems, for Israel – my French teachers in H.S. told me the we were “the exception to the rule.” None knew _why_ one must say “J’aime la France” and “J’aime les Etats-Unis”, but “J’aime Israel” (without the definite article). Anyone know the **reason** for this exception? I don’t think we covered this in my French classes. Perhaps it’s because Israel was originally a personal name (given by God to Jacob), so it doesn’t need a definite article. ---
**Author:** ![scott\_evil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/91b2a8/32.png) [@scott\_evil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scott_evil)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2005, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-question-about-canadas-name/305178/11 "2005-05-25T02:56:12Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > A much more fascinating linguistic mystery is why Quebec’s provincial motto is “I Remember Myself,” As **Spectre of Pithecanthropus** kind of mentioned, _Je me souviens_ means “I remember”, not “I remember myself.” The significance: > [@](#): > > **Its Origin** > > In 1883, Eugène-Étienne Taché (1836-1912), an architect and the Deputy Minister of Crown Lands, was drawing up the plans for the Québec Legislative Building (today the National Assembly). Under the arms of Québec over the main entrance to the Parliament Building would be engraved in stone the motto Je me souviens. It was used and referred to as Québec’s motto for several decades. Its official status was further bolstered when Québec adopted a new coat of arms in 1939 and placed these words on the scroll underneath. > > **Its Meaning** > > Eugène-Étienne Taché did not explain his intentions in any texts now available. But we can understand the motto’s meaning from its original context. Taché designed the front wall of the Parliament Building as a remembrance of Québec’s history. He made it into a pantheon with bronze sculptures of Amerindians, explorers, missionaries, soldiers, and government administrators from the French Regime, and figures from the English Regime like Wolfe, Dorchester, and Elgin. Other decorative features evoke characters or episodes from the past and Taché left room for the heroes of future generations. The motto over the main entrance sums up the architect’s intentions: Je me souviens… I remember everything that this wall recalls. From [here](http://www.premier.gouv.qc.ca/secteur/bienvenue_quebec/symboles_emblemes_en.htm). ---
**Author:** ![Hypnagogic\_Jerk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hypnagogic_jerk/32/4252_2.png) [@Hypnagogic\_Jerk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypnagogic_Jerk)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2005, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-question-about-canadas-name/305178/12 "2005-05-25T03:32:05Z")
> [@detop](#): > > They do exist in French : _septante_ (70), _octante_ (80) and _nonante_ (90). They are an archaic form that is only found nowadays (I think) in Swiss French. _Huitante_ may also be used in place of _quatre-vingts_, and those forms are also used in [Belgian French](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgian_French). ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Kenneth\_Noisewater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@Dr.Kenneth\_Noisewater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Kenneth_Noisewater)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2005, 10:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-question-about-canadas-name/305178/13 "2005-05-25T10:36:47Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > A much more fascinating linguistic mystery is why Quebec’s provincial motto is “I Remember Myself,” Je me souviens is an example of a common french construct known as a **reflexive verb.** Not always do they refer to the person in question, but are simply the nature of the verb. Reflexive verbs are commonly introduced in teaching as referring to doing something to oneself, which is probably the source of your misconception (e.g. Je me lave is “I wash myself”). Often verbs have reflexive and non-reflexive forms, leading to slightly (or completely) different meanings. They are strange creatures that I cannot claim to fully understand yet. ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2005, 10:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-question-about-canadas-name/305178/14 "2005-05-25T10:46:57Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > …or why French people never thought to come up with words for “seventy,” “eighty,” or “ninety.”… > > Lots of things in old languages don’t make a lot of sense. English has about a zillion of these. …including use of base-20 which is comparable to French: _ **"Four Score and seven years ago…"** _ ---
**Author:** ![KGS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/90ced4/32.png) [@KGS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KGS)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2005, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-question-about-canadas-name/305178/15 "2005-05-25T14:13:43Z")
> [@Excalibre](#): > > Right. This is strictly a matter of French grammar - it’s not the same as the way certain countries have “the” in them - the Ukraine and the Sudan being the only ones that come to mind in English (and both countries prefer that the article be omitted.) The Philippines The Congo (both of 'em) The United Kingdom The United States 🙂 The Vatican ---
**Author:** ![Excalibre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@Excalibre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Excalibre)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2005, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-question-about-canadas-name/305178/16 "2005-05-25T14:27:50Z")
> [@KGS](#): > > The Philippines > The Congo (both of 'em) > The United Kingdom > The United States 🙂 > The Vatican Stop making me look foolish! (Actually, I deliberately left out the US and the UK because grammatically, it’s sorta necessary. Whereas there’s no reason “The Congo” or “The Philippines” need it grammatically. Those are good examples.) ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2005, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-question-about-canadas-name/305178/17 "2005-05-25T14:46:45Z")
> [@Excalibre](#): > > Whereas there’s no reason … “The Philippines” need (the definite article) grammatically. It’s pretty common (but not invariable) with nations/states made up of a group of islands: The Marshall Islands The Seychelles The Solomon Islands The Bahamas The Virgin Islands and then conversely: Hawaii Tuvalu Fiji Vanuatu Kiribati New Zealand ---
**Author:** ![Crandolph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7cd45c/32.png) [@Crandolph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crandolph)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2005, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-question-about-canadas-name/305178/18 "2005-05-26T01:05:18Z")
> [@KGS](#): > > The Philippines > The Congo (both of 'em) > The United Kingdom > The United States 🙂 > The Vatican The Gambia. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Ice\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/dfb087/32.png) [@Ice\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ice_Wolf)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2005, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-question-about-canadas-name/305178/19 "2005-05-26T05:45:36Z")
> [@bordelond](#): > > It’s pretty common (but not invariable) with nations/states made up of a group of islands: > > \ > New Zealand But with NZ, you have this for the two main islands: _The_ North Island and _the_ South Island, although North and South Island is what they’re called, not their description. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2005, 8:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-question-about-canadas-name/305178/20 "2005-05-26T08:39:56Z")
> [@Excalibre](#): > > This is strictly a matter of French grammar - it’s not the same as the way certain countries have “the” in them - the Ukraine and the Sudan being the only ones that come to mind in English (and both countries prefer that the article be omitted.) The Ukraine and The Sudan are larger regions; Ukraine and Sudan are countries. So I think the reason the countries prefer that the article be dropped is that it’s confusing. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-question-about-canadas-name/305178.md?page=2)