The Canadian Oxford Dictionary, 2nd Edition -- YES, the SECOND edition -- has just been released. We had to wait until almost the end of the 20th century before we even got the 1st edition of our very own dictionary, with 2,000 solely-Canadian words as well as Canadian spellings and usage, and now they've discovered more Canadian words and have come out with a 2nd edition and are working on the 3rd! What a victory for Canadian wordsmiths!!!
By the time the 1st edition came out in 1998, there was obviously pent-up demand for a Canadian dictionary, for it spent a YEAR on the Globe and Mail best-seller list. The mind boggles at the idea that a dictionary became a best-seller. Still I was one of the excited ones that contributed to that status, and it was probably around that time, or soon after, that Canadian newspapers finally acceded to public demand and started the novel idea of using Canadian spellings in their pages. Now if only all Canadian bloggers would follow suit.
Some examples of Canadianisms: cheesies, shit-disturber, and puck-bunny. Not to mention butter tarts and Nanaimo bars.
By the time the 1st edition came out in 1998, there was obviously pent-up demand for a Canadian dictionary, for it spent a YEAR on the Globe and Mail best-seller list. The mind boggles at the idea that a dictionary became a best-seller. Still I was one of the excited ones that contributed to that status, and it was probably around that time, or soon after, that Canadian newspapers finally acceded to public demand and started the novel idea of using Canadian spellings in their pages. Now if only all Canadian bloggers would follow suit.
Comments
Thank you for linking to my site. I agree, us Canadians do need to promote each other, and also get to know all our disparate selves since we are blessed with such a vast and fascinating country.