Actually, we use British spelling, or English.

The Americans are the ones who changed the language.

So it is not a matter of us using a Canadian version of English.
We are using actually English.

It is Americans who have a bastardized version of the language.

But, English has transformed with the times and likely will continue to do so.
The reason that many of our words are spelled similarly to French, even though English is of Germanic roots and French is of Romantic (Latin) roots, is because of the Norman conquerors in 1066.

For a time, nobles in England spoke French, and the language trickled down to the common folk to transform what English is.

And I heard somewhere that hillbillies in the Apalachian Mountains may speak a similar dialect to Elizabethan English, as they have been in relative isolation, their accent may have held true. Though that seems a bit silly.

Anywhoo... thought someone should say something, since you posted.

And the best defence, is to not have anything to attack.
And not everyone is Canadian on this forum...

k... i am done rambling.

phil

Certain things are working against us. I just did a spell check on "colour" on my word processor at work. It showed up as incorrect spelling. I work for a large corporation that operates worldwide and we usually use american spelling as I believe most large companies do.

That, Hoopster, is one reason that Americans feel that they rule the world. Some feel that the American way is the only right way and everyone else is wrong. I'm not telling you that you or major corporations are wrong, but just adding fuel to the fire that is Americanism.

I trained my partner to spell the Canadian way. He was born and raised in the US. But, we plan on settling in Ontario, so...he got new spelling lessons.

Hoopster, I hope you use Canadian spelling regardless of what your spell checker says. Besides, even Winblows spellcheckers can be trained.

You can change your spell check so that it uses Canadian spellings. You don't need to use the Bill Gates default.

Philos, yes I appreciate that Canadian spellings to have a tendency to be the same as British. However, we have our own MS spell check and our own Oxford Dictionary of Canadian English. We can claim some independence on the English language front.

I proudly use "Canadian" spelling. I also have my spellcheckers set to that. The default setting of US spelling is the only reason that many have gone to the American way. The reason for the default is nothing sinister I am sure, just reflection of where the software originated.

BTW - the Canadian Forces is one part of the Department of National DefenCe. Some people still spell it right !-)

Canadian spelling is correct spelling that has been debauched by Americal illiteracy. Get yourslef the 2-vol. Shorter Oxford Dictionary and a Fowler's Modern English usage and return to the true path!!! Heaven is waiting....

Okay, since someone else brought up the topic of Canadian English, I can't hold this in any longer. In Canada, is not the 26th letter of the alphabet still "zed" as opposed to the American "zee?" EZed, what's with the "EZee" pronunciation on the video? It's really been gnawing at me.

And, Jeffery, even you called it a "zee" in your original post in this thread. Et tu, Jeffery?

Gal,

Obviously I spelt out "zee" to make a point. I am certainly in the "zed" camp. I thought that would have been obvious.

Oh, good. I'm so relieved. Sorry, Jeffery, I didn't hear your eyes roll sarcastically when I first read your original post, but now I do.

But that E-Zee Squirrel video is still driving me nuts!

I fight the good fight in my classroom. It's ZED, the way God meant it to be. And colour, and honour, and harbour, and cheque. etc.

Amen!

No offense people but isn't it kind of anal to make such a big deal about this?

When you sing the ABC song Zed doesn't rhyme. It doesn't seem to make sense although that's how I always sang it. My mother is a teacher and very proudly Canadian. No American language allowed!

I usually use the British but does it really matter most of the time? If we understand each other. What bugs is me is when people don't use punctuation and captials and use text spelling. I can't always make sense of what they're saying.