A Language Question for the Canadians

[gnomi]

I'm language-posty-girl these days, apparently. I appreciate you all bearing with me.

This one may be a bit odd.

So, I was listening to the interview with David Hewlett that was posted on GateWorld before the beginning of the current Stargate: Atlantis season. And when talking about the first episode of the season, he says that McKay and Ronon are in the Wraith ship, "side by each" in the cocoons. And I scratched my head and said, "Side by each?"

So, here's the question: is "side by each" a standard Canadian phrase (used where I'd say "side by side")? Or is this just part of his idiolect?

Thanks!

Comments

[ckd]

(commenting on the one with the subject header...)

James Taylor uses "side by each" in the song "Copperline".

[cbpotts.livejournal.com]

It's not common in southern Quebec.*At least not among my aquaintances, who are largely english speaking* However, we do have "Couple Three", meaning six. I'm particularly fond of that.

[csbermack.livejournal.com]

Huh. My family has "couple three" in the dialect, not that I use it often, but it means "two or three", with an implied comma. I wonder if it originally meant 6 and us amurkan younguns just misinterpreted it. (Mom's family is canadian)

[gnomi.livejournal.com]

My dad says "couple three" meaning "two or three" as well, and he's born and bred Massachusetts.

[cramerica.livejournal.com]

I've heard "couple two three," meaning two or three. Originally heard in upstate New York-- no clear Canadian link.

[cbpotts.livejournal.com]

Interesting -- I'm in extreme upstate (4 miles from Quebec border) and I've only heard it over there -- and always meaning six, although now I wonder if I've misunderstood all this time. It would not surprise me if I did.

Hmm. Must ponder.

[cramerica.livejournal.com]

Hmm... did you always find yourself becoming much drunker than your friends after a couple three beers?

[gnomi.livejournal.com]

That seems to be the reference everyone's coming up with, yeah.

Must ponder further.

David Hewlett and James Taylor are not people I tend to think of as having anything in common.

[byrne.livejournal.com]

Regional, I'd say, and I'd put it out west.

[gnomi.livejournal.com]

Why west in particular? Just curious. :-)

[byrne.livejournal.com]

HEE! Because I live east and have only heard it a few times, and the commenters who live central say the same. The people I can actually recall saying it have all lived in BC or Alberta, actually. I'm just guessing. Heh.