Re:A Typology of Canadianisms
by teqsun on Thursday July 10, 2025 @08:08AM
(#44520071)
This list somehow doesn't have "converter" (to refer to a television remote), which was the first word to unexpectedly baffle my American coworkers the first time I said it, to my own surprise.
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I'm from Northern Ontario and never heard that one, but I was also surprised by a missing term: "transport". In my neck of the woods, that's how we refer to a semi-truck / 18-wheeler.
I've never heard that one... what part of the country is that from?
Re:A Typology of Canadianisms
by eigenspace on Thursday July 10, 2025 @08:59AM
(#44520513)
Where are you from? I'm from BC and I've never heard that one either.
I grew up in BC as well and never heard it. My parents were from Ontario and always called it the flipper. Because it flips channels I guess. Felt like every household had a different name for it though.
Re:A Typology of Canadianisms
by throaway955 on Thursday July 10, 2025 @09:07AM
(#44520579)
never heard of that, but always delighted my friends when id ask for the channel changer
Converter was definitely heard when I was growing up and I would know what you were talking about 100%
Now a days I am probably more likely to say "Clicker" unless otherwise prompted.
I think that's actually going to be more of an age thing as well. The converter wasn't just the remote, but the little box, separate from the TV, needed to convert signals for an older TV.
Basically, the 'cable box' or the 'satalite box.'
But ya, 45 years old, grew up in Toronto and Southern Alberta and it was a converter, until it wasn't.
Re:A Typology of Canadianisms
by osigurdson on Thursday July 10, 2025 @10:20PM
(#44527852)
What is it converting?