# Why am I Canadian? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 17, 2002, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-am-i-canadian/137222 "2002-11-17T23:55:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2002, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-am-i-canadian/137222/21 "2002-11-18T14:32:45Z")
For more answers check out this previous thread:[Why the ‘i’ in Canadian?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=127320&highlight=canadian) ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2002, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-am-i-canadian/137222/22 "2002-11-18T19:30:33Z")
You might ask a Texian. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc348/32.png) [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2002, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-am-i-canadian/137222/23 "2002-11-18T20:16:01Z")
I thought that was a Texican. You might also ask a Haligon_i_an, a Glasweg_i_an or a Liverpudl_i_an. ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2002, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-am-i-canadian/137222/24 "2002-11-18T21:26:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Coilen \* > [relevant hijack] > Anyone know how to use IPA fonts on the board? > [/relevant hijack] Short answer from matt\_mcl: “Go use SAMPA - ASCII representation of phonetic characters.” [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=119908](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=119908) ---
**Author:** ![chula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a4c791/32.png) [@chula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chula)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2002, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-am-i-canadian/137222/25 "2002-11-18T22:28:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by RickJay \* > **Do you call people from Germany Germanans? From France Francans? Japanans? Scotlandans? Swedenans? There’s no particular rule connecting the name of the country and the name of the nationality.** I might if those countries were named Germana, Franca, Japana, Scotlanda, and Swedena. These things definitely do follow patterns (though understandably less so in very old countries). Can you provide another example of a country that ends in “-a” and adds an “i” to the word for its nationality? ---
**Author:** ![Jodi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7feea3/32.png) [@Jodi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jodi)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2002, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-am-i-canadian/137222/26 "2002-11-18T22:36:20Z")
> [@](#): > > And I’m still trying to figure out how to describe someone from Seattle (besides saying “wet”). Seattleite (pronounced like “satellite”) and it’s not that wet here, thankyewverymuch. [sub]For example, it’s not raining right this second. Earlier yes, later almost certainly, but not right _now_.[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![Ringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Ringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ringo)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2002, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-am-i-canadian/137222/27 "2002-11-21T02:09:48Z")
> [@](#): > > I thought that was a Texican. Nope, Texian. ---
**Author:** ![ian5277](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/278dde/32.png) [@ian5277](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ian5277)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2002, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-am-i-canadian/137222/28 "2002-11-21T13:57:14Z")
When I recently relocated to Baltimore I was asked by a NJ friend if I was now a Baltimoron. ---
**Author:** ![Wallenstein](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b5a626/32.png) [@Wallenstein](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wallenstein)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2002, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-am-i-canadian/137222/29 "2002-11-21T14:31:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by quicken78 \* > \*\*As a follow up and a slight highjack, Manchester: Mancunian, Liverpool: Liverpudlian, Glasgow: Glaswegian??? There must be a connection. What is the etymological justification for changing the root of the word and adding ‘-ian’ when referring to an inhabitant of that region. The French reason seems to make sense but I can’t believe that this holds true for the English and Scottish cities to which I have just referred. \*\* Most of the British names mentioned by **quicken78** are derived from latin naming protocols. For example, Cambridge = Cantabrigia in latin, and an inhabitant of Cambridge is thus called a ‘cantabrigian’. The same is true in Oxford (= Oxonia, hence ‘Oxonian’) Because these naming models are well established (alumni from Cambridge University are called ‘old cantabrigians’, degrees from Oxford are written “MA (hons.) Oxon.”) they are applied to other cities in the UK, even those in which there is no established latin name. It’s kinda shoehorning things to fit an established model, even if there is no strict reason why it should be the case. Mancunia is the latin (or at least, made-up latin) for Manchester, but although we keep the anglo-saxon name for the noun, the adjective follows the latin model because that’s wot is establised. Possibly the same happened with Canada: the cod-latin would ‘Canadia’, hence Canadians, but the noun remains in its original state. Not sure why the latin convention has persisted: 1. maybe because it’s established, and (particularly from the point of view of the British) if pointless tradition is not respected then life ceases to hold any meaning. 😉 2. It sounds nice (the eupony point made already). “Canadians” trips of the tongue nicely. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by RickJay \* > **Do you call people from Germany Germanans? From France Francans? Japanans? Scotlandans? Swedenans?** > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by chula \* > \*\*I might if those countries were named Germana, Franca, Japana, Scotlanda, and Swedena. \*\* NB. Franconia and Germania have both existed as terms for parts of europe in the past, and their inhabitants were referred to as ‘Franconians’ (not sure about 'Germanians, though). – Quirm ps. This is all speculation for the most part. I have no specific cites to back me up, but it perhaps suggests some further lines of investigation. ---
**Author:** ![Wallenstein](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b5a626/32.png) [@Wallenstein](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wallenstein)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2002, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-am-i-canadian/137222/30 "2002-11-21T14:38:31Z")
Also, for **Rickjay** and **Chula** : Scotland = Scotia in latin (cf. Nova Scotia = New Scotland; and Nova Scotians). Sweden = Scandiavia in latin (orig. from O.N. Skaney “south end of Sweden”). Hence Scandiavians to refer to Swedes (and the others, but originally the Swedes). ---
**Author:** ![bernse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@bernse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bernse)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2002, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-am-i-canadian/137222/31 "2002-11-21T15:24:59Z")
I think people from Paris should be called Parisites. ---
**Author:** ![Floater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/dc4da7/32.png) [@Floater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Floater)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2002, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-am-i-canadian/137222/32 "2002-11-21T15:28:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Quirm \* > Sweden = Scandiavia in latin (orig. from O.N. Skaney “south end of Sweden”). Hence Scandiavians to refer to Swedes (and the others, but originally the Swedes). Not true, I’m afraid. The Scandinavian peninsula takes it name from the mountain ridge separating Sweden and Norway, called Skanderna in Swedish. ---
**Author:** ![Wallenstein](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b5a626/32.png) [@Wallenstein](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wallenstein)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2002, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-am-i-canadian/137222/33 "2002-11-21T15:34:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Floater \* > \*\*Not true, I’m afraid. The Scandinavian peninsula takes it name from the mountain ridge separating Sweden and Norway, called Skanderna in Swedish. \*\* Fair enough. I got my info here: [http://www.geocities.com/etymonline/s2etym.htm](http://www.geocities.com/etymonline/s2etym.htm) > [@](#): > > Scandinavian - 1765, from L.L. Scandinavia, from a Gmc. source (cf. O.E. Scedenig, O.N. Skaney “south end of Sweden”), from P.Gmc. \*skandinaujo “Scandia island,” second element from \*aujo “thing on the water.” It may truly have been an island when the word formed; the Baltic coast has evolved rapidly since the end of the Ice Ages. Either way, my point is still that Scandinavia is the latin form of Skanderna (or a variant thereof), which then provides the adjective ‘scandinavian’. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2002, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-am-i-canadian/137222/34 "2002-11-21T15:45:30Z")
Wouldn’t a Texican be someone from Texaco? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Floater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/dc4da7/32.png) [@Floater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Floater)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2002, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-am-i-canadian/137222/35 "2002-11-21T15:56:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Quirm \* > Either way, my point is still that Scandinavia is the latin form of Skanderna (or a variant thereof), which then provides the adjective ‘scandinavian’. Of course, it was the reference to the province of Skåne that I objected too. BTW, IIRC the name Skanderna itself is derived from Skade, a goddess in Norse Mythology. ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2002, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-am-i-canadian/137222/36 "2002-11-21T17:03:37Z")
Just for the record, a Germanian was an inhabitant of Germania Superior or Germania Inferior, the two provinces of the Roman Empire strung along the Rhine that were all that the Empire conquered of what is today Germany (along with part of the Netherlands). ---
**Author:** ![Rob\_V](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Rob\_V](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rob_V)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2002, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-am-i-canadian/137222/37 "2002-11-21T17:18:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Barbarian \* > \*\*That one gets fun-- I’m an anglo from Quebec, and I prefer Quebecois (keh-beck-wah) – but I know lots of people who say I’m a Kweebecker. > > You’ve also got Montrealers vs. Vancouverites. > And I’m still trying to figure out how to describe someone from Seattle (besides saying “wet”). \*\* Seattle-ite? ---
**Author:** ![HotovecSE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HotovecSE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HotovecSE)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2002, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-am-i-canadian/137222/38 "2002-11-21T19:26:43Z")
And then there are the people who try to make persons from Iowa be Iowegians because people from Norway are Norwegians. Sheesh… ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2002, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-am-i-canadian/137222/39 "2002-11-21T20:08:45Z")
The people of Spain are Spanials. Like in Cocker Spanials. But some people call them spanners or even spankers. ---
**Author:** ![SuaSponte](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/67e7ee/32.png) [@SuaSponte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuaSponte)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2002, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-am-i-canadian/137222/40 "2002-11-21T20:53:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tengu \* > \*\*Try saying Canadan or Americian. > > Euphony counts for a lot. \*\* But does euphony derive inherently or because we are used to saying Canadian and American? I would wager that if we grew up saying Canadan, we’d think it sounds pleny euphonic. Sua [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-am-i-canadian/137222.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-am-i-canadian/137222.md?page=3)