U.S. President George W. Bush's penchant for slangy speech was always apparent from the nicknames he bestows on reporters, and it doesn't stop with other leaders.

Yesterday, as leaders of the G8 chatted with the heads of seven African nations, a televised feed of their summit in Japan picked up some of the chit-chat before a closed-door meeting, including Mr. Bush's casual style of address with the Prime Minister of Canada.

Mr. Bush slung a casual arm over Nigerian President Umaru Yar'Adua for a chat, until he caught sight of Stephen Harper. “Yo, Harper!” he called, bringing him over for an introduction.

Footage of the U.S. President calling Prime Minister Harper over for an introduction at the G8 summit

The U.S. President has dropped the formalities before, famously referring to Mr. Harper repeatedly as “Steve” as the two held a press conference during Mr. Harper's first visit to the White House in 2006.

Some political opponents in Canada claimed it showed Mr. Harper had a too-chummy relationship with Mr. Bush, and Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Danny Williams mockingly repeated the “Steve” appellation during his sharpest criticisms of the prime minister.

Mr. Bush has shouted out to world leaders with a ‘Yo' before, calling out a “Yo, Blair” to former British prime minister Tony Blair at a G8 summit two years ago. More...