Newfoundland is the large island that makes up part of the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. While the island was initially inhabited by aboriginal peoples, such as the Beothuk, it was later colonized by the British, Irish, French, and other European groups. While English is the most widely spoken language on the island today, the Newfoundland English dialect is distinct from the other Canadian English dialects.
A dialect is simply a regional variation of a language reflecting not only geography, but also history. In A Dictionary of Sociolinguistics, linguists Joan Swann, Ana Deumert, Theresa Lillis, and Rajend Mesthrie define a dialect this way:
“…describes the speech habits (pronunciation, lexicon, grammar, pragmatics) characteristic of a geographical area or region, or of a specific social group.”
Dialects are characterized by different pronunciations (i.e. accents), vocabulary, grammar, and syntax.
English dialects in North America are often a reflection of the history of English-speaking colonization. Newfoundland was, of course, one of the first areas settled by the English in North America. The English people who came to Newfoundland tended to come from southwest England, particularly from the city of Bristol and from counties Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Hampshire, and Somerset. In addition to English-speakers from England, Newfoundland was also settled by English-speaking people from Ireland (particularly Waterford, Wexford, Kilkenny, and Cork) and from Scotland. By the late eighteenth century, Newfoundland English was generally recognized as a distinct Canadian dialect.
With regard to phonology—that is, the sounds of the language—in Newfoundland English the words “fear” and “fair” are pronounced the same. Newfoundland English tends to lose dental fricatives (the voiced and voiceless “th” sounds) which are replaced with the voiced or voiceless alveolar stop (“t” or “d”). Thus “this” may be pronounced as “dis” and “they” becomes “dey.” Other examples would include “mudder” for “mother” and “fadder” for “father.” This is also found in the Irish dialect of English.
The personal possessives “my” and “mine” are often replaced with “me.” Thus “my house” becomes “me house.” Similarly, “me mudder” means “my mother” and “me fadder” is “my father.”
There is also a tendency to avoid the helping verb “to have” before past participles. Where other English speakers might say “I have told him to stop,” in Newfoundland English this becomes “I’m after telling him to stop.” Similarly, “I’m after sitting down” means “I have sat down.” This usage may be due to the influence of Irish Gaelic which uses “tar éis” (“after”) to mean “having just” done something.
For speakers of other Canadian dialects, Newfoundland English may seem a bit fast.
Some Newfoundland Expressions:
“Whadd’ya at?” literally means “What are you at?” but is used as “How’s it going?”
“Get on the go” means “let’s go.”
“Where ya at?” means “Where are you?”
“G’wan b’y!” is an expression of disbelief.
“You’re some crooked” means “you are grouchy.”
“Tits up in the rhubarb!” refers to a state of intoxication which involves falling over and/or passing out.
“Right” is used for “very” as in “I had a right good time” and “she’s right good looking.”
“Baff” is a verb meaning “to strike, beat, wear out by repeated use” as in “The road is baffed out.”
For those interested in hearing some Newfoundland English, let me suggest the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s (CBC) series Republic of Doyle which is set in St. John’s, Newfoundland. The episode “Republic of Murdoch” on the CBC series Murdoch Mysteries also uses the Newfoundland dialect.