# 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:** 19\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2002, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-am-i-canadian/137222/41 "2002-11-21T20:59:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Barbarian \* > \*\*And I’m still trying to figure out how to describe someone from Seattle (besides saying “wet”). \*\* You can now call us “[monorailers](http://archives.seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/texis.cgi/web/vortex/display?slug=votetally20m&date=20021120).” 😃 ---
**Author:** ![LazarusLong42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/87869e/32.png) [@LazarusLong42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LazarusLong42)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2002, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-am-i-canadian/137222/42 "2002-11-22T00:00:03Z")
Argentina/Argentinian (not Argentinan) Bahamas/Bahamian Those are the other examples I can think of looking at a list of countries. Some interesting patterns show up, though: Oriental country adjectives tend to end in -ese (Chinese, Japanese, etc) but the ending shows up elsewhere as well (Portugese) Also oddly, these adjectives cannot duplicate as nouns. “A Canadian”, but not “A Chinese.” Similarly, Arabic and Muslim countries–especially the ones ending in -stan–generally form adjectives ending in -i. Thus Pakistani, Yemeni. Longer names (Uzbekistan) simply drop the whole -istan, though: Uzbek, Turkmen, Afghan. All the truly irregular stuff happens to European countries. England/English. France/French. Switzerland/Swiss. Of course, I belong to the most irregular class, which is: Michigander. ---
**Author:** ![substatique](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f19dbf/32.png) [@substatique](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/substatique)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2002, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-am-i-canadian/137222/43 "2002-11-22T04:33:42Z")
Yes, that’s all very well and good, but the tough question is the stress issue. Why is it CA-na-da but ca-NAY-di-an? CA-na-di-an sounds just as good as CA-na-dan. ---
**Author:** ![Neurotik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/91b2a8/32.png) [@Neurotik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neurotik)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2002, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-am-i-canadian/137222/44 "2002-11-22T04:41:36Z")
I thought we established it’s the fault of the French. As usual. ---
**Author:** ![Ringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Ringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ringo)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2002, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-am-i-canadian/137222/45 "2002-11-22T05:31:35Z")
I suppose regional difference just evolve. If you listen to a Southelyssianan say Acadian, the emphasis is on the _last_ syllable - A-cay-di-YANN. ---
**Author:** ![Ringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Ringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ringo)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2002, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-am-i-canadian/137222/46 "2002-11-22T05:36:31Z")
And as I look at your post again, **substatique** , it occurs to me that I live in HOU-ston, but I’m an Hou-STONE-ian. Perhaps the increased syllabation alters where we’re inclined to accent a word. ---
**Author:** ![xanadu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c4cdca/32.png) [@xanadu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xanadu)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2002, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-am-i-canadian/137222/47 "2002-11-22T06:02:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by clairobscur \* > \*\*It’s spelt “Acadiens” \*\* Er…No. I actually live in Louisiana, and I live in the region called “Acadiana.” There’s no “e” though. I see this word just about everywhere I go, especially because the local news channels use it. And actually, most people pronounce it a-kay-dee-in. It’s only pronounced A-cay-di-YANN by the people in really bad tourist oriented commercials that try and convince potential visitors that we’re all a bunch of simple party people. But that’s another thread. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Ringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Ringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ringo)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2002, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-am-i-canadian/137222/48 "2002-11-22T06:20:53Z")
Hi **xanadu**. I get all my input from visiting vendors, but I certainly don’t live there, so I’ll defer to your experience. I’m not sure from your post which syllable gets the emphasis - the guys I talk to draw out that last syllable. ---
**Author:** ![Fatwater\_Fewl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/4491bb/32.png) [@Fatwater\_Fewl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fatwater_Fewl)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2002, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-am-i-canadian/137222/49 "2002-11-22T06:50:44Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by xanadu \* > \*\*Er…No. I actually live in Louisiana, and I live in the region called “Acadiana.” There’s no “e” though. I see this word just about everywhere I go, especially because the local news channels use it. > And actually, most people pronounce it a-kay-dee-in. It’s only pronounced A-cay-di-YANN by the people in really bad tourist oriented commercials that try and convince potential visitors that we’re all a bunch of simple party people. But that’s another thread. 🙂 \*\* Er …No. I actually live in Maritime Canada which is where your _Cajuns_ originated and here (as in Canadien/Canadian) the francophones spell it Acadi_en_ (a-cah-[d]jee-EN) and the anglophones Acadi_an_ (a-KAY-dee-in). I know nothing of the reason (nor much of anything else), but the Latin explanation makes the most sense to me. jm ---
**Author:** ![Fatwater\_Fewl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/4491bb/32.png) [@Fatwater\_Fewl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fatwater_Fewl)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2002, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-am-i-canadian/137222/50 "2002-11-22T06:53:11Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Sunspace \* > \*\*Wouldn’t a Texican be someone from Texaco? 😃 \*\* That’d be a Texa **con**. ---
**Author:** ![racosun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bc79bd/32.png) [@racosun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racosun)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2002, 7:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-am-i-canadian/137222/51 "2002-11-22T07:28:57Z")
In my region, we say that “Canucks” reside in “Canukada.” ---
**Author:** ![GingerOfTheNorth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/cdc98d/32.png) [@GingerOfTheNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GingerOfTheNorth)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2002, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-am-i-canadian/137222/52 "2002-11-22T14:27:36Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Fatwater Fewl \* > \*\*Er …No. I actually live in Maritime Canada which is where your Cajuns originated and here (as in Canadien/Canadian) the francophones spell it Acadi_en\* (a-cah-[d]jee-EN) and the anglophones Acadi_an_ (a-KAY-dee-in). > > I know nothing of the reason (nor much of anything else), but the Latin explanation makes the most sense to me. > > jm \*\* I was about to post this. Thank you. It’s alarming that this is so obscure. ---
**Author:** ![slortar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@slortar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slortar)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2002, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-am-i-canadian/137222/53 "2002-11-22T15:08:38Z")
Personally, I think they should be canadiacs. ---
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2002, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-am-i-canadian/137222/54 "2002-11-22T16:50:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by xanadu \* > \*\*Er…No. I actually live in Louisiana, and I live in the region called “Acadiana.” There’s no “e” though. \*\* The poster was wondering whether the spelling of “canadians” could be related to an original french spelling. So, he asked how “acadians” was spelt _in french_. In french, acadians is spelt acadiens, with a “e”, regardless what word the locals are using to call themselves. ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2002, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-am-i-canadian/137222/55 "2002-11-22T19:18:22Z")
> [@](#): > > And as I look at your post again, substatique, it occurs to me that I live in HOU-ston, but I’m an Hou-STONE-ian. Perhaps the increased syllabation alters where we’re inclined to accent a word. On the other hand, if you lived in NYC, you might consider a residence on HOUSE-t’n Street. ---
**Author:** ![GingerOfTheNorth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/cdc98d/32.png) [@GingerOfTheNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GingerOfTheNorth)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2002, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-am-i-canadian/137222/56 "2002-11-22T22:41:20Z")
The actual term for someone who lives in Baltimore is Baltimorean. Dave says Baltimoron, though. So do most others I’ve met. ---
**Author:** ![SandyHook](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dec6dc/32.png) [@SandyHook](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SandyHook)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2002, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-am-i-canadian/137222/57 "2002-11-23T01:33:29Z")
I can add nothing to this discussion. And possess no factual knowledge of any sort that bares on this question. BUT!!! As a tax paying American I INSIST that my views on this question be given equal weight with those that do know what they are talking about. It obviously all hies back to the Whiskey Rebellion which so sorely tried President Washington’s administration. I’m sure I saw somewhere that the additional “i” was used on Canada’s whiskey barrels to differentiate them from those in the US on which the necessary taxes had paid. Well… it might have actually been the Japanese, but the principle is the same. ---
**Author:** ![bonzer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/45deac/32.png) [@bonzer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bonzer)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2002, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-am-i-canadian/137222/58 "2002-11-23T02:54:59Z")
> [@](#): > > \*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. To further complicate the hijack, not all of these are pronounced the same. Thus Man-cue-ni-an and Li-ver-pud-li-an somewhat parallel Ca-na-di-an, but Glaswegian is either Glas-wee-jan or Glas-wee-gen. As evidence of the latter, note that in Irvine Welch novels, those on the wrong side of the Harthill services refer to those at the fairer end of the M8 as “weegees”. ---
**Author:** ![dqa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dqa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dqa)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2002, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-am-i-canadian/137222/59 "2002-11-23T03:56:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by LazarusLong42 \* > **Oriental country adjectives tend to end in -ese (Chinese, Japanese, etc) but the ending shows up elsewhere as well (Portugese) Also oddly, these adjectives cannot duplicate as nouns. “A Canadian”, but not "A Chinese."** [Wrong](http://www.odci.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/ch.html#People). However, I submit that it’s no mistake that these countries end with the same ending as Portuguese, for the Portuguese were some of the earliest of the far-flung explorers. I suspect their names for inhabitants were transliterated the same as the French Canadien was transliterated into English. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by substatique \* > \*\*Why am I Canadian rather than Canadan? Other countries in the area merely tack an “n” on the end or change the last vowel to make a nationality. > > For example, America-\>American; Mexico-\>Mexican; Cuba-\>Cuban; Venezuela-\>Venezualan\*\* If we’re going to look at countries “in the area” such as Venezuela, it might be more appropriate to look at countries spelled more similarly to Canada. Bermuda -\> Bermudian Grenada -\> Grenadian As far as I can tell, the only other countries that end in -da are Uganda and Rwanda, but I think the Ugandans and Rwandans are too far away to be considered “in the area.” Looking at other countries that are three syllables, and end with vowel-consonant-“a” we find Guyana (Guyanese), Jamaica (Jamaican), Moldova (Moldovan), Panama (Panamian), and [Saint] Helena (St Helenian). Canada is unique among these in accenting the first syllable. Only other place I could think of with that pattern, but a stressed first syllable would be Africa. If there any Africians reading this thread, perhaps they can shed some light… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-am-i-canadian/137222.md?page=2)