Canadians telling time: A study in Dialect Topography

Abstract

This paper investigates linguistic variation in methods of telling time in four dialects of Canadian English. It is hypothesized that the invention of the liquid crystal display (LCD) for use in chronometry has led to the digital variant of time-telling (e.g., eleven-forty) gaining currency over analog time-telling (e.g., twenty to twelve). Real time data from previous of Canadian and U.S. surveys are compared with data from four Dialect Topography project regions (Montreal, Quebec City, Golden Horseshoe, Ottawa Valley). It is shown that the change from analog to digital for (9:30) precedes that of (11:40), indicating a non-simultaneous two-stage transition. Evidence from historical facts and a novel methodology using dual responses (the interaction matrix) is used to support this claim. it is also demonstrated that (11:40) exhibits a divergence between the Quebec and Ontario dialects, where the digital form appears to be gaining currency in Quebec. Finally, I discuss methods for extending this analysis to other variables and languages.

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