Date: Wed, 9 Sep 1998 16:21:03 -0400 ()
From: Terry Goldie <tgoldie-AT-YorkU.CA>
Subject: Re: no fighting no biting


In my experience, difference from Americans is regarded as of course
important, noteworthy, etc. unless it is Canadians who are asserting such
difference, in which case it is rather petty.
Some of us don't think so.
terry

On Wed, 9 Sep 1998, Clarisse Zimra wrote:

> Date: Wed, 9 Sep 1998 14:57:35 -0500
> From: Clarisse Zimra <czimra-AT-siu.edu>
> Reply-To: postcolonial-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu
> To: postcolonial-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu
> Subject: Re: no fighting no biting
> 
> Innocent that I am, I had simply assumed that the first "labour" post was
> by a person trained in the British system, on whatever continent that might
> be, and I was pleased at the idea and the thought behind the wish:  yes,
> happy workers day to al hard working people! So, before we debate, back and
> forth again, the merits of one kind of spelling against another, the
> "Americans" among us who either took offense or applauded the "Canadian"
> stand might want to remember that Canadians are Americans, too. But the
> imperialized effect of the adjective derived from a whole continent to
> describe one country alone will come as no surprise to members of this list.
> 
> I found the belabo/ured exchanges mildly amusing, until some of the
> contributors chose to take offense. Indeed, language matters; but can we
> give our 700-some readers on this list the benefit of the doubt, and
> presume they are flexible in such matters? I have a degree each from
> England, France and the US. I have lived, researched and taught, in Africa,
> Asisa, Europe and the US (not Canada, though). I write my friends in,
> generally, an Americanized (notice my -Z-) language since this is the one I
> use most often at this point in time in my life. They respond from Europe,
> Asia, Africa or Australia with various spellings, depending on
> circumstances. It does not bother me any more than their speaking with an
> accent other-than-mine bothers me.
> 
> So, as my American teenager is fond of saying, "chill! guys, chill!"  cz
> 
> Clarisse Zimra
> Dept. of English and Comparative Literatures
> Member, Faculty Research Seminar on Irish and Immigration Studies
> Southern Illinois University
> Carbondale, IL  62901-4503
> off:  (618) 453-6813
> messages:  (618) 453-5321
> fax:  (618) 453-3253
> 
> 
> 
> 
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> 

Terry Goldie
English Department
York University
North York, Ontario
Canada
M3J 1P3
voice: 416-604-3670
fax: 416-736-5412
email: tgoldie-AT-yorku.ca



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