Tim Horton's is a typical Canadian coffee shop. By observing and interpreting this setting, we can understand Canadian culture as it's expressed in that setting. Understanding this small part of Canadian culture can then be applied, in a broader way, to the culture of Canadian society. A certain language that is special to customers of Tim Horton's serves a purpose that most are not aware of, big business is changing and confusing our traditional culture with a new culture that is run and concerned with money by large corporations. Canadians are generally friendly and polite to one another but are not community oriented, they are more individualistic.
The coffee business has developed, through relationships with customers, a language that is exclusive to coffee drinkers and regulars of Tim Horton's. Examples included while ordering are "double double" which means coffee with double cream and sugar, or "ice cap" which means ice cappuccino. The main purpose of this language seems to have evolved through convenience, but its existence is very beneficial to the business. This language speeds up the ordering process and goes well with their greeting of "how can I help you" while a large smile is on the employees face. The greeting is friendly, but not too friendly in that it does not open up any other conversation other than ordering. The language is quick and to the point, wasting no time.
Inside the coffee shop, a great deal of thought has been put into spatial distribution. The space is small, but every square centimeter is utilized for sitting, ordering and preparing and displaying food. The floor plan allows customers to move in a structured way to order and then sit down or leave. The floor plan is similar to a continuous circular flow of costumers, ...