I’ve seen pictures of CN rolling stock with the word spelled both ways…? Is this an English thing like THEATER, THEATRE? Or did someone grab the wrong stencil?
Scroll a ways down to see two gray CN hoppers with both spellings:
I’ve noticed that too. I have a rolling stock Canadian car that has Canadian on one side and Canadien on the other somewhere in my stacks of cars.
I think I remember hearing Canadien is the French version. Perhaps transpired from Quebec. I’m not 100% positive if that’s true or the reasoning behind it, that both spellings are put on some cars but I like the Canadian spelling better, unless I’m eating french fries[(-D][:-^][:)]
TF
Correct.
I hope you’re putting gravy on those fries!
Yes, but of course! [dinner] Also with some melted trailer cheese and some chili[:P] the more the merrier as I always say[(-D]
I am planning to visit Martin Station Wilderness Road State Park in Ewing, Virginia one of these days on my bucket list. When I ever get down there to Virginia, I would also like to visit the old abandoned mining town of Sewell, Mann’s Creek Railroad. A dream of mine, I have a lot of interest in that one[Y]
My Grandfather who I loved dearly was a Canadian. The memories of him, I still do. He was a Scotch Canadian so he spelled it Canadian eh[:)]
TF
If you are a true Canadien you eat your fries as Poutine.
It’s not the gravy, it’s the cheese curds that make it Canadien…
Canada has two official languages, English and French. All official documents like tax returns, government notices, etc. are required to be in both languages. Because Canadian National is (or at least was up until recently) owned by the Canadian governement, that included it’s freight cars. Beginning around 1980 cars had the railroad name spelled out in English “CANADIAN NATIONAL” on one side and French “CANADIEN NATIONAL” on the other side. Canadian Pacific was/is a private company, so was not required to do that.
First of all, it was around 1960, not 1980 (new logo was officially introduced in 1961).
It had nothing to do with government regulations as far as I know, but part of the idea within the redesign of the modern CN logo was that using only the letters “CN” and not “CNR” like the previous logo made it work in both languages. And cars had the English name applied to one side, and the French version on the other.
Not government requirement, just company policy/design decision with the new branding. Plus CN’s headquarters were in Montreal, Quebec which might also influence that.
BTW, VIA Rail was and still is a “crown” corporation as well, and that’s not exactly bilingual either.
Also BTW, slightly off topic, but you mentioned it… for tax time you indicate which language you want to use in your correspondence. These days I do it on the computer, but when I did my tax forms on paper, the forms were in English only. They’re AVAILABLE in either official language, but you fill out an English or French version of the forms. Other government forms that aren’t as complex might have a single version with both languages, but usually you just get either an English or French version of the document.
Interesting Stix
As I knew a little part of it, I never knew all of it or the reason why? Now I do!
Thanks Stix[Y] I always like to learn something everyday.
TF
Other than that “reason” being totally made up as far as I know…
The Canadian Official Languages Act does apply to the CN.
https://www.clo-ocol.gc.ca/en/language_rights/act
That would explain both spellings.
Simon
That doesn’t really affect painting a name on one side of a boxcar as far as I can tell… it’s about providing service to the public in either language. The link also indicates the first version of the act is from 1969, at least eight years after CN started this practice with their 1961 brand re-design…
Indeed, CN is a private company (technically a publically listed company) and is not required to use a French version of its corporate name any more than a private individual such as myself has to use Michel instead of Michael.
There was a big of a brouhaha when the Liberal government took CN private, I.e, not a Crown Corporation. As a sop to the public CN is required to remain headquartered in Montreal. CP moved its HQ to Calgary years ago, in part due to politics in La Belle Province.
I haven’t looked it up but I expect CN actually has a bilingual corporate name or maybe it just uses Canadien National as a sop to the politicos in Quebec. There is no law requiring a French corporate name. The Official Languages Act specifically applies to CN and not to CP but that Act does not apply to the actual corporate name.
Canadien National isn’t even correct French, even in Quebec. National Canadien would be acceptable.
Literally: Compagnie de Chemins de Fer Nationaux du Canada. Maybe?
(Translating back gets you: national Canadian company of iron tracks)
Only indirectly and specifically because the enabling legislation taking CN as a Crown Corporation into the private sector as Canada Business Corporation makes it a requirement, just like the HQ having to remain in Montreal. The Official Languages Act doesn’t require use of a French version of a corporate name.
Ironically, the Official Languages Act might well have required creation a French version of the corporate name. Our Federal government named its departments with this in mind, always putting “Canada” after the department name which is a French naming convention. As in Justice Canada for the Attorney General’s department.
Montreal’s hockey team is the Canadiens for what that’s worth.
Gidday Andy, theatre is “Queens English” as is centre, and metre. There are quite a few differences between “Queens English” and “American English”, but I think we can generally understand each other, though in my trade the use of the correct nomenclature is very important.
I had it from a French Canadian that Canadian French is actually “Old” French as spoken in 17th and 18th century France.
Cheers, the Bear.[:)]
I was tought “Canadien” is the French way, “Canadian” is the American english way. That was under the precept of learning the language and had nothing to do with Railroads, private companys, or laws. Who knows if thats true, i was educated in America.
Either way, a French speaking person is gonna know your a tourist. Especially when you pronounce “Pere Marquette” as “Pierre Marquette”.
I dont collect many CN models, very interesting to know there are two name spellings on one model. Never noticed it before.
-PMR
Which side of the car has “CANADIAN” ?
Which side of the car has “CANADIEN” ?
Quebecois is indeed old pre revolutionary French. My daughters speak it. The one who lives in the UK works frequently with the French (in France) and they assure her that her command of the language is excellent but “quaint” on account of learning the Canadian version of French. A bit like a modern Englishman conversing with a Shakespearean era Englishman perhaps.
Les Canadiens de Montreal are commonly referred to as Les Habs…short for Les Habitants or “the peasants” … out West they are referred to just as the Montreal Canadians, when we’re feeling feisty.
And just btw: Canadian is the Canadian spelling of Canadian, not the American spelling…
De Hanglish would be to da right
et le Francais a la gauche
naturalement.
Until le train reverser hand den de udder way roun