Asked by Gina
How do you know whan a word is in standard or non-standard Canadian English?
Many dictionaries contain this information. If you live in Canada, please check your library for a dictionary that shows standard and non-standard Canadian usage. Also -- Dictionary.com (and other dictionaries) give standard British usages. For instance, in the U.S. usage, a <i>napkin</i> is defined as a piece of cloth or paper used to wipe one's mouth at a meal. But the British (and Canadian) <i>napkin</i> is a diaper. Canadians use the French word, <i>serviette</i> for the paper or cloth used at a meal to wipe one's mouth.
Many dictionaries contain this information. If you live in Canada, please check your library for a dictionary that shows standard and non-standard Canadian usage. Also -- Dictionary.com (and other dictionaries) give standard British usages. For instance, in the U.S. usage, a <i>napkin</i> is defined as a piece of cloth or paper used to wipe one's mouth at a meal. But the British (and Canadian) <i>napkin</i> is a diaper. Canadians use the French word, <i>serviette</i> for the paper or cloth used at a meal to wipe one's mouth.