I'm Canadian and I am dating a woman from the States (we've been together 3 years). I am just now able to pick up the Canadian accent from other Canucks. Why now?

You tell me, eh?

Truth is – it’s not that distinctive in the more metro areas. I haven’t heard a real ABOOT unless it was way out in rural Ontario. The Canuck equivalent to rednecks, lol.

Cold enough fer ya? That’s pretty Canadian, eh? And don’t get me started on the tabernac Franglais.

@zensky The one word that I don’t say is “eh”, my friend. :)

What? And miss the opportunity to turn every statement into a question, eh?

That would be no fun, eh?

Shit, I’m from Ohio, and I say eh.
I don’t know if there is a specific time frame that allows us to pick up accents or become entirely acclimated to a new one. Maybe you’re looking for it more, now that you realize you can hear it.

Most of Canadian speech I’ve heard I couldn’t distinguish from a generic American accent. Maybe a slight “aboot” but even that’s not always there.

You have probably been picking it up since you started going out with your girlfriend, you are just now noticing it.

My favorite one is the Canadian “sorry”.
You were accustomed to the accent, now you are in a new environment where the accent is less common and you have become un-acclimatized to the Canuck.

There is no single Canadian accent. It varies significantly by region and those with a good ear for language can detect this.

I can detect a Newfie.

I don’t have an answer to your question really, but I experience something similar. I was born in USA lived there for 50 some years. Moved to Australia about 14 years ago. When I first came here I had a terrible time understanding what people were saying, everything sounded so foreign and exotic. Now I no longer distinguish any accent for aussies or yanks. I think it must be because they both now sound so familiar to me that neither stands out anymore. People have to tell me they are from USA before I realize they are not talking aussie!

how true! @rooeytoo ! I too, have gotten where it all sounds the same! I watch bbc and then when it goes back to local station it’s forever before I realise it’s a different accent. Oh how funny I thought it was only me hahaha