From: beaurega@ireq.hydro.qc.ca (Denis Beauregard)
Newsgroups: can.general
Subject: Re: Canada = ?
Date: 13 Apr 92 17:44:41 GMT
Distribution: can.general
Organization: Hydro-Quebec

In article <1992Apr13.145142.19269@julian.uwo.ca> s36238f@kaira.hut.fi (Tim Klemets) writes:
>
>I'm curious to hear where the name Canada comes from.  What does
>it stand for?  It doesn't sound extremely English to me, but not
>like any indian language either.  (No, I don't know any indian
>language).
>
>   Tim.Klemets@hut.fi ** Aldrig mer en h{ftig signatur ** Fiksut signaturet 

It came from the spanish Aca Nada.  Nothing there,  Y a rien la.

When the spanish came across the northern lands this side of Atlantic,
they saw a little of forest and indians, but no civilisation.
So, they put Aca Nada on the map and turn to southern lands that they claimed.

When the English decided to establish themselves (or shall I say the
British?), they ask to Spanish the map of New World and pointed out
the unsettled lands.  About ACANADA (the monk describing the map
forget to space the words), the Spanish said in English (because
there was a translator) that there was nothing civilized there.
Then, the British decided to land in the middle and founded Virginia,
Carolines, Massachussetts, etc.  On the map of northern border, they
retranscripted the spanish name, adding a space, giving A CANADA.

Finally, the France decided to take it.  French were more sophisticated
and thought because it was colder, animals were wearing furs.  So,
in settling there, they could have furs for free.  French are so a la mode,
you know.  So, they settled there and keep the name.  

So, this was the History of Canada word.

And if you think it is a joke because the A disappear, here is how
this A jump to Acadia.  The French settling in Acadia called their
country (nation? land? county?) Cadie, meaning their little house
(in the Atlantic side).  French making maps believed they were very
litterate and named their country from Arcadia (a country at time of
Greeks, I think).  Acadians said they were living in La Cadie and
map writter changed to L'Arcadie then L'Acadie, Acadia in English.

And what about La Chine?  La Salle who wanted to go to China by 
St.Lawrence River had a land.  His inhabitants decided to call
the place La Petite Chine to "honor" pejoratively the first idea
of the founder.  They later dropper Petite and kept La Chine, now
Lachine, besides Montreal.

All these words and their story.  Frontenac Ontario now Kingston.
Sorel switching to William Henry (a prince of England) and back to Sorel.
And Canada renamed Quebec and Quebec that wants to leave Canada.

You did not asked it, so I won't tell you, but Quebec has also his
story.  Looks like it was from Breton or Normand (a lot of places
there terminate by -bec or -beck, like Caudebec).  

Hope you are now informed.

Any more question?


-- 
    Denis Beauregard       _ _ _ _  Collecting Beauregard/Jarret/Jarest/Vincent
beaurega@ireq.hydro.qc.ca | * | * | Promoting use of QC as Quebec Postal Abbrev 
  Andre Jarret, sieur de  |===|===| Mes opinions?  Oui, oui, les miennes!
   Beauregard 1642-1992   |_*_|_*_| My opinions?  Yes, yes, mine!
Newsgroups: can.general,can.politics,soc.culture.canada