It's Zed , Not Zee!
Here’s what I think. You might feel the same…
- Canada’s unique identity is strongly derived from its three original cultures: English, French, and the many Indigenous peoples with whom we share this vast space.
- Language—in the ways it is both written and spoken—is significant in defining a culture.
- Differences between the way Canadians say and spell things contribute to our unique identity in the world and strongly support the longevity of our unique cultures.
- While language will continue to evolve, adopting the writing and speaking forms of other countries will erode Canada’s cultural identity.
Still with me? If so, here’s a bit more…
- Canadians—especially young ones—are strongly influenced by the media they consume. Canadian artists, politicians, influencers, and media people who don’t speak and write “in Canadian” need to be informed and pressured to change their ways.
We don’t really have an official one yet, so this will have to do for the meantime:
“To preserve the unique spellings and pronunciation of Canadian words and phrases, whether their origin be English, French, or First Nations.”
Information
Did you even know that “It's Zed, Not Zee!” existed before you arrived here?!
Please tell others about this website.
Community
Bring like-minded Canadians together.
Discourse
Bring like-minded Canadians together.
Act
Bring like-minded Canadians together.
In a single sentence, I’d say it was to inform, cajole, sway—and perhaps embarrass—“Canadian people of influence” to modify their ways and keep both the written and spoken languages of Canada alive and thriving.
At the same time, it’s also important to laud and applaud those Canadians who do regularly pronounce and write our words in our traditional ways. These people are the “keepers of the flame” of Canadian culture.
This website is intended to be a meeting place
The stunning photos at the top of this page came from Pexels and this website acknowledges these outstanding photographic artists: Castle Mountain, Alberta – Bruno Karklis Diniz; Downtown Toronto Skyline – Christopher Becke; Peggy’s Cove, Nova Scotia – Bogdan Krupin.