• GreyEyedGhost@lemmy.ca
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    1 month ago

    This is a Canadian topic. With regards to this exact term, in the words of Churchill, “We are divided by a common language.”

    • Dasus@lemmy.world
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      1 month ago

      Okay as someone who isn’t from an English-speaking country, would you mind elaborating on what the usage is in this case so I understand the title better?

      Thanks

      I mean I get regional differences and I’d say my knowledge of them is fairly high for someone who wasn’t speaking English, but it’s impossible to actually have perfect recall all the time. I still check whether licence was the noun or verb in the UK (license being the verb). And always hesitate with defence vs defense. Flat vs apartment boot vs trunk and all those are simple though, but I can’t know all them. :F

      • GreyEyedGhost@lemmy.ca
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        1 month ago

        There are a number of words in English that have different meanings depending on where you’re from, such as flat or boot, but the political definition of table is its own antonym depending on the region. In Canada and the UK to table a bill or subject means to pay attention or deal with it, while in America it means to set it aside. There is an apocryphal story about the leaders of Canada and America meeting with him during WWII and they wish to discuss some subject. The Canadian says to table the discussion, the American gets upset and says it’s an important topic and needs to be discussed, and Churchill says we are nations divided by a common language.

        I honestly thought it would be more prevalent on the internet, but I couldn’t find a reference to it.