Canadians like to think we're different but I just read a recent survey which shows we're not, really. There's thought going around that Americans are more brash than we are and we're nicer people, but in reality, we're not that far apart.
I just got an American transferred into my classroom and we talk about the differences all the time, so there must be something there. He's pretty cool.
Hey - I can see the origins for 'mate' but 'bloke'?? Where the heck would that come from?
Ad why a windscreen and not a windshield?? A screen would keep out the bugs but not the wind??
Signed - confused in Canada!!
The only time I can tell the difference between a Yank and a Canadian is if the Yank is from the south, otherwise you all sound the same. I don't want to get in to an argument about whose 'brash' and who isn't, but below is a 'joke' that I think sums up the Aussie attitude pretty well.
There's a Texan Rancher visiting a Cattle Station (Bloody big farm) in the Northern Territory, and he says to Station owner
"My Ranch is that big that it takes me all day to ride my horse from one end to the other"
The Aussie Station owner say's
"I know what ya mean bloke, I had a horse like that too, shot the bastard".
As for the origin of BLOKE I have no idea other than to say that is the masculine of BLOKETTE.
As for Windscreen vs Windsheild, it's like you guys call it a hood and a trunk, we call them a bonnet and a boot - who knows.....