Do we say “corn” or “corn from India”, Manon? It's time to decide!
In politics, a simple tasting of corn or corn can turn into a debate.
The debate is ignited in the comments under a recent TikTok post from Quebec solidaire. About what? Inflation? The climate crisis? Nenon, we persist on the terms “corn” and “corn” (with humor for the majority, at least we hope).
In the TikTok video in question, we see the party's co-spokesperson, Manon Massé, savoring an ear of corn as well as the phrase “I love Indian wheat from Quebec”, a nod to the viral phenomenon “It’ s corn” launched by a young corn lover.
Several Internet users are demanding that the quote be corrected by saying that it should be said “corn” instead.
@quebecsolidaire
We like roasts. We love Indian wheat from Quebec.
♬ its original – Québec solidaire
Who's right?
According to the Office québécois de la langue française, the preferred term is indeed “corn”. It is also this term that we find mainly in the media.
But in everyday Quebec language, “corn from India” is still widely used. And when we talk about corn roast, this is by far the term that is the most used.
This is also the term that seems to be the most popular among Quebecers. According to a (non-scientific) poll conducted by the Bag of Chips, 89% (2460 votes) of their readers say “corn of India”, against 11 % (298 votes) who use “corn”.
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Wheat from here
And where does this little local term come from? Remember that when the first Europeans discovered America, they thought they were in India. When they found the corn – which they mistook for wheat – they called it “Maize from India”. Ah, those settlers!
We agree, it would be a little ridiculous to be really offended by this funny name. Let Manon eat her corn in peace.
