Them's fightin' words! (Oh no, I'm starting to talk like an American already! ) We have none of those. We have Canadian culture: http://chillybeach.com/ (See particularly, "out of thin ale.") Canadian cuisine: http://www.river-cafe.com/ Canadian technology: http://www.ballard.com/ …so bite your tongue!
rimbaud: Your situation perfectly illustrates Barthes's model. As there are multiple interpretants (Canadians, Germans, etc), there are multiple signifieds from the original signifier(s). The resulting inability of others to understand such complexities resulted in a communication breakdown. Perhaps you should have spent the time explaining to those pesky Germans sign/signified relationships. If only I had know elucidating powers of semiotics then! You asked my solution to the label game earlier...perhaps we could cut out all ambiguity and label ourselves with the global coordinates of the spot on which we were born. Not only does this create a more personal signifier, but it cannot be confused with any other location/region. Everyone would simply carry around a global coordinates chart and they could see exactly where your birth took place and further understand your complexities/mindset, etc. Simple, eh? Simple, yes, but I think Hodge and Kress might say that it lacks attention to the social aspects of signification. The structuralists, after all, do tend to emphasise codes at the expense of the complex interrelations of semiotic systems in social practice.
Hey, I thought Canadian cuisine was Earl's and Shreddies? I had forgotten all about Three dead trolls in a baggie, thanks for the reminder. Interestingly enough, my parents were Americans, so I could have said I was American-Canadian when I was growing up -- but only if I wanted to get beaten up. Now that I have a US passport as well, should I call myself Canadian-American? How about Hoser-American? (Sorry for the SCTV humour)
GS: Parents were American … Tom Cochran fan (who's making the playoffs anyway?) … knows the Three Dead Trolls and Earls. You must have lived in Western Canada, probably Alberta, maybe Calgary? How about Salt and Vinegar chips? Do you get them down there yet? Poutine?
