Linguists call out Canada’s Carney for ‘utilizing’ British spelling
Canadian language experts are calling on Prime Minister Mark Carney to abandon British spelling in official documents and “use” Canadian spelling instead.
Canadian English has been the standard in government communications for decades. But eagle-eyed linguists and editors have spotted British spellings – like “globalization” and “catalysis” – in Carney government documents, including the budget.
In an open letter, they asked Carney to stick to Canadian English, writing that it is “a matter of our national history, our identity and our pride.”
They note that Canadian English is unique because it borrows influence from both the United States and the United Kingdom due to geography and history.
It also includes “Canadianisms” specific to the country’s lexicon, such as the use of the word “toque” to describe a winter hat, or “toilet” instead of American bathroom or British toilet.
A big distinction between Canadian and British spelling is the use of the letter “z” versus “s” in words like analyze. But Canadian English takes inspiration from British English in other ways, such as using the “or” in color, rather than the American “color”.
However, other British terms are never used, such as tire for “tire”.
In the letter, dated Dec. 11 and shared with BBC News, the linguists wrote that Canadian English is recognized and widely used in Canada, arguing that “if governments start using other spelling systems, it could lead to confusion about which spelling is Canadian.”
They add that using Canadian English is “the easiest way to take a stand with your elbows up,” referring to an ice hockey term Carney used to describe Canada’s defiance of U.S. tariffs and President Donald Trump’s jabs in the 51st state.
The letter was sent by Editors Canada and signed by four linguistics professors from various Canadian universities, as well as the editor-in-chief of the Canadian English Dictionary.
The BBC has contacted Carney’s office for comment.
One of the signatories, Professor Stefan Dollinger of the University of British Columbia, said he and others felt strongly about the issue “because language expresses identity.”
“It seems somewhat counterproductive for the prime minister’s office to go back half a century or more,” Professor Dollinger told the BBC, highlighting how Canada’s language has evolved since its past as a British colony.
Carney’s office has employed at least two notable uses of British English, said Kaitlin Littlechild, president of Editors Canada.
The first was the Carney government’s budget, released in November. The second is an October press release from the Prime Minister’s Office following a working visit to Washington, D.C., where Carney met with Trump.
Ms Littlechild said it was difficult to determine whether it was a “misunderstanding” or a “targeted directive”.
JK Chambers, a prominent Canadian linguist at the University of Toronto and another signatory, pointed out that Carney spent many years of his adult life in the United Kingdom, including seven years as governor of the Bank of England.
“He was obviously pretentious while he was there,” Professor Chambers said by email, but added: “So far, thank God, he has not resorted to ‘prison’ for ‘prison’s sake’.”
