some researchers have long defended Canadian English's claim to 'language' status, or at the very least 'varietal' status. Avis defines Canadian English as neither American nor British, different from them in terms of vocabulary, syntax and pronunciation. As Eric Partridge says: 'Canadians have a very distinctive variety of English, far more different from that spoken in Britain than is the English spoken by Australians; yet Canadians- so imperceptibly, so constantly has the process operated - "just get on with the job"; having this very different English, they therefore do not feel the need to have it at all'