Our clients regularly use our translation services to produce English-language content or translate documents into English. Translating content into English is not the same worldwide – there are over 15 dialects of English. Even in places where English is the dominant language, such as Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom, the language differs in important ways that can affect translation if not addressed by professional translators specialized in that country’s content.
Much of Canadian English is similar to English in the US and the UK. We can all understand each other, and in regular, everyday communication, any differences will be forgiven. But if you want to show that your content was created for Canada and gain the trust of a specific English-speaking audience in any formal correspondence or marketing, it is best to select a translation company with native resources to produce a localized, flawless English translation for Canada. A Canadian English translator should be used, and there are resources to consult for guidance on style.
The Translation Bureau, a federal institution that supports our government in communicating in both official languages, maintains terminology and linguistic databases and style guides for French and English content.
To produce the best Canadian English translations, we use the official style guide issued by the Canadian Translation Bureau. This guide offers extensive details for the proper use of Canadian English. In the style guide, there are directions on items such as hyphenation, bibliography, capitalization, and much more.
The vocabulary, grammar, and punctuation in Canadian English may be a bit different from what is used in other English-speaking countries, and these small differences stand out to a native speaker. Our multilingual translation company, JR Language Canada, will ensure your content for Canada is written in Canadian English.
Below are some differences between Canadian and American English that can affect translation, and we can localize to the Canadian market or even specific areas of Canada.
The Growth of Languages
Etymology, the study of linguistic evolution, is a fascinating subject. Time, immigration, colonization, trade, geography, politics, and more all influence how a language develops. Languages also borrow from each other, and Canadian English is a perfect example. Canadian English borrows a portion of its spelling from British and French words, like “theatre,” “centre,” and “marvellous.” Also, Canada has two official languages, English and French, and French has influenced some Canadian vocabulary and terminology.
Everyday Common Language
English content for Canada must be localized, so it’s best to write your original copy in plain language to make it understandable to as many people as possible. It can then be localized by the professionals to fit local readers. Some good examples of local vocabulary and differences from our neighbor to the south’s English:
- “Hooded jacket” is a suitable expression to use, as some might call it a “hoodie” and others might call it a “bunnyhug.”
- A countryside vacation home can be called a “camp” in Northern Ontario and a “cabin” in western Canada.
- Expressions for rental lodging are particularly tricky. A one-room apartment with an attached bathroom is called a “studio” in the U.S., but a “bachelor” in most of Canada. Residents of Prince Edward Island would call such an apartment a “loft,” and Quebecois might call it a “one-and-a-half.”
- Whole wheat bread in the US is brown bread in Canada.
- Soda is soda water here in Canada. If you want a Coke with that, you will need to ask for pop or a soft drink, depending on where you are in Canada.
- A napkin in the US is a serviette in Canada, which is a link to our French bilingualism.
- What we call a dressing gown or housecoat is called a bathrobe in the US.
- We run the tap; in the US, they turn on the faucet.
Numbers and Measurements
Numbers and measurements in Canadian English have to be carefully localized for region and industry. In general, Canada uses the metric system. However, there are times when the imperial measurement system turns up.
- In cookbooks, pounds and ounces are often written alongside grams and kilograms, and cooking temperatures may be presented as Fahrenheit or Celsius.
- Distance is measured in kilometers, except in the Prairie provinces, where road distances are measured in miles. But the spelling is kilometre.
- Notations for dates derive from both the British, US, and French styles. Dates can be written MM/DD/YYYY (British and US) or DD/MM/YYYY (French), but the Canadian government specifies YYYY/MM/DD. This is why a style guide is so important for a company before its content is translated.
- The Canadian government uses the 24-hour clock, as in Europe, but in daily life, most residents also use the 12-hour clock, as in the US.
Geographical Names
As we are a bilingual country using both English and French, this can affect the names of cities and other geographical features.
- Most geographical features have only one official name; however, 81 have both English and French names.
- Some provinces, including Manitoba, Ontario, and New Brunswick, also use “alternate names” for geographical features within their provinces. When determining which is best to use, the style guide and knowledge of local usage are a must.
- Most cities and towns have one official name, but a few have both English and French names. Determining which is best to use when translating into Canadian English is the professional translator’s work and choice, depending on the particular content.
Bringing Your Message in English to Canada
English-speaking Canadians are a large and powerful market, and a quality Canadian English translation can bring a high return on investment. People prefer to work, study, shop, and, in general, to read in their own native language. The small differences between the dialects may seem inconsequential; it’s still English after all, isn’t it? But making the effort to localize your content will make people more comfortable and willing to work with you, and it will read as if it were created for them from the get-go. These small differences can make a powerful impression. A professional language services company in Canada, such as JR Language Canada, can help you craft and refine your message for a Canadian audience.
