Even the location within Canada could also influence the language around you. With just a simple move south, below the Mason Dixon line to the Southern United States, language changes again. Where groupings of words and simply phrases could cause someone to hesitate and think what the meaning could be. There are many effects geographical location will cause that will determine everyday language
Alaska, especially in the winter months, can be brutally cold. With globalization, Inuit have been able to move out of igloos and into more permanent residences, and are more capable to stay warm. They have also adapted to more modern means of transportation and communication, such as the snowmobile and the internet. Another, great example of changing their cultural identity comes from the video that we watched in the class, where the women’s of Inuit represented their identity through the use of various extraordinary tattoos on their faces. However, they have stopped this
Most of these protagonists face the issue of who they are in terms of one set identity, while some of them have a difficult time figuring out whether they want to have one identity or a hyphenated identity. To earn this hyphenated identity the Canadians would have to accept the protagonists as Canadians first. While trying to cohabitate in this foreign country they have certain external pressures such as enemies, family and friends who make their decision more difficult through various different racial and cultural tensions and in the long run affecting the protagonist’s decision in figuring out which identity is best for them. “The Street” by Mordecai Richler illustrates a significant class structure where the Main is “… a dividing line, below are the French Canadians [,] above… the dreaded WASPS [and] on the Main itself there [are] Italians, Yugoslavians and Ukrainians, but they [do] not count as true gentiles.” (Richler, 1990) The WASPS are considered to be higher class folks. The Main racial tension in “The Street” is between the French Canadians and the Jewish.
People with alternate cultures, other than the most popular for a given region are always viewed differently. Mustafa writes that she is seen as a Muslim radical or a fundamentalist, she is seen as an immigrant although she is a Canadian born and raised citizen. She writes, “Strangers speak to me in a loud, slow English and often appear to be playing charades.”, her fellow countrymen and women see her as an immigrant because of her alternate culture. Watt-Cloutier is an activist for her Inuit people, and is fighting hard for them. Depending on what side of the argument you sit on,
There are many diverse cultures and ways of living in the world. Modern and urban culture’s “normal” way of living have a huge impact on many other cultures. In My Body Is My Own Business, Naheed Mustafa explains the current culture’s stereotypes and expectations for women along with its emphasis on physical appearance. In Sheila Watt-Cloutier’s Citation of Lifetime Achievement, 2006, Watt-Cloutier shows the urban/modern culture’s ignorance and the detrimental impact that it has on the Inuit culture. This essay will compare and explain the experiences of Mustafa and Watt-Cloutier, and how modern/urban culture greatly impact other various cultures and stereotypes.
‘Frozen’ is a harsh sounding word, which is probably why the author used it, to depict is as a harsh feature of his face. It also makes it sound permanent, however, froze rivers only occur during the winter season, and this could also be interpreted as a temporary feature, which will fade or ‘melt’ as the seasons move on. This could be linked back to the fading relationship. Some people say that relationships are like seasons – they come and go but you’ll always have that one special one –and this could be the speaker’s interpretation of their relationship. Similarly, in Harmonium, Armatige once again uses an extended metaphor.
However, I think it is high time that Canada addressed the immigration issue with a good dose of realism, because this country is suffering and so are many of the immigrants living here. One of the more pressing problems is the recognition of foreign credentials. Too many Ph.D.’s, M.D.’s, etc. have to work as janitors or taxi drivers, because our current immigration system has misrepresented the facts to these people. Under the points system, a medical doctor would get the top score for qualifications.
The structure of the 1908 newspaper is not the only main difference compared to the newspapers written today. By looking at the 1908 copy of the British Colonist you notice that many of the political, economic and cultural topics they portray are significantly different than any we would currently see. The way the British Colonist shows the world in 1908 explains how differently people back then approached similar problems that we currently face. The reflection of Canada and the world the paper during that time depicts is different in a lot of aspects. How they solved political problems, the way the money and taxes were used, and the way they viewed minorities is just some of the main differences found in most copies of that year’s newspapers.
This word is often used by coaches speaking to the media regarding a struggling player. The reason it is classified as a jargon is because it is a word used by a particular profession, often hockey, and would not make sense in everyday language. Therefore it is a specialized language used by a particular group. If the term were used outside the sport world, it would not have the same definition. Example: He had 5 goals and 17 points last season, and was a healthy scratch a few times in January.
MacKinnon, John. " Racism in hockey happens too often ." National Post | Canadian News, Financial News and Opinion. N.p., 24 Sept. 2011. Web.