One of the biggest challenges I’ve had as a writer is separating proper English from Newfoundland English. I come from a province where the dialect is not only often entirely different from the rest of North America, but it also takes on different forms across the island. While my mother dropped her h’s from her speech (“’oly” instead of “holy”), my father living just 20 minutes away would not pronounce his th’s (“maff” instead of “math”).
In fact, we have our own dictionary. I’m not kidding.
There’s nothing wrong with this use of language, and I’m often surprised when others criticize the way we talk (Newfoundlanders included). Why should we be ashamed of individuality? Being from “the bay,” people automatically assume I should have a rough accent.
Mostly it’s disappeared over the years, but when my parents came to visit last summer, I slipped back into words and phrases I hadn’t used in awhile. My roommate couldn’t understand me.
So it’s my duty to school you all about Newfie-speak, in hopes of easing the transition should you ever make it here. We’ll begin with one of the most fundamental words in the language: b’y.
“B’y” (pronounced “bye”) is dynamic and complicated. Even the Newfoundland Dictionary doesn’t seem to know much about this word, but I’m certain it isn’t a warped version of “boy” as it applies to females too. My best guess is that it’s a shortened form of “buddy.”
You can toss this word into almost any conversation, but you have to do it right. There certainly cannot be any pauses, hints of uncertainty or improper emphasis.
Your best bet is to use it when speaking with friends and acquaintances, as “b’y” suggests amiable terms or at least an open, honest setting.
Here are some examples.
Disbelief, shock, dismay: “Go on b’y! You’re not serious?!”
Sarcasm, ridicule, impatience: “Oh yes b’y, like I’d do something like that.”
Happiness, endearment, excitement: “You knows I loves you b’y!”
You also can’t throw it into a normal conversation void of other Newfie words/attitude.
Not okay: “Excuse me b’y, could you please hand me that glass of expensive Merlot? I’d be ever so grateful.”
Fail.
The delivery is just as important as the word itself. Nobody should be able to tell that you are an outsider. One evening my roommate, while removing his coat, said something like, “It’s pretty cold out there tonight b’y.”
I looked up slowly from my laptop. The word just hung there in the air, fat and lazy and uncomfortable.
While the context of the sentence was fine, it lacked attitude. And he knew it.
The word should flow like music. For your homework, I’d like you to study the following musical example and use the word at least once in your conversation with a respected superior tomorrow.
There you have it, your first lesson in Newfoundlandia. I hope you’re all the wiser for it.
{ 27 comments… read them below or add one }
This is fantastic! I admit, I’m nervous about visiting Newfoundland as I’m not sure I’ll understand what people are saying to me. Great post! I think this should be a weekly thing
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Candice Reply:
March 11th, 2010 at 10:14 am
Hahaha, I might just do that! And don’t worry, it’s not really THAT bad…you’ll hear something really strange every now and then, but for the most part, it’s a dying trend.
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I’m, fairly sure that’s a song I sang for my boy as a lullaby when he was a baby or maybe that was What Do You Do With a Drunkin Sailor, one of those two I’m sure.
And what I wouldn’t pay for a copy of that Newfie dictionary, I love language.
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Haha! Funny post!
Its a great idea! Doing insightful pieces on on the tricks of the local language! Or of the things one notices in the language of the places visited..
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Candice Reply:
March 11th, 2010 at 10:08 am
Thanks! And yes, it gets to be quite hilarious sitting down with a bunch of Newfies and listening to them jabber. Especially after a few drinks.
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You’ll have to go over this again at TBEX. I don’t get it. Are you for sure going to TBEX, by the way????
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Candice Reply:
March 11th, 2010 at 10:10 am
Got the plane ticket booked and the TBEX ticket bought, I am indeed going! I will give you a personal one on one lesson.
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Fun post! I remember when you described b’y on our post about the Canadian Word. I love the language. Our old neighbours were from Newfoundland and whenever we had a few beers with them, we couldn’t understand a word they said. But we always had so much fun! The best people on the planet are from the east coast! We really have to make it out there soon.
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Candice Reply:
March 11th, 2010 at 10:10 am
Aww, thank you! We really are a fun bunch. If you ever make it back out here, we’ll have a blast!
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Im working with a heap of newfies, and some of the stuff that comes out of their mouths is worth a head scratch and a half. Love it thoe. You should definitely be proud that the rock’s got it’s own version of English. North America in general seems to be losing a lot of its unique accents. Be sure to hang on to yours tight.
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Candice Reply:
March 11th, 2010 at 10:11 am
Hahaha, there are most definitely a lot of Newfies in Halifax, eh? You’ll pick it up in no time!
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Almost everyone I work with is from NL, so there’s lots of dialect thrown around and I’m a sponge. I have recently caught myself going to say “b’y” but I tend to stumble if I notice it, because everyone knows I’m not from here so I feel like an imposter ;P (but I’m sure it slips out without me noticing as well… like I said, I’m a sponge.)
(there’s a few ways of speaking here that are also present in PEI in pockets..)
There’s a few phrases and expressions I definitely have picked up and use regularly without even thinking, but it probably helps that I already had an island influence on my speech
It’s been 10 months, and I still get the occasional client I can’t really follow :S And definitely get cab driver’s I can’t understand….
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Candice Reply:
March 11th, 2010 at 10:12 am
Oh the cabbies! They’re the worst. You’ll figure it all out eventually though, you might even pick up the lilt. I suggest a trip “out around the bay”!
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ps – most common use of b’y at work: “yes, b’y!” whenever someone says something painfully obvious, or asks an obvious question . . . which is probably why I most often almost say it when I’m away from work and someone is being dumb. ;D
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How cool! I desperately want to hear this used in speech!
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Candice Reply:
March 11th, 2010 at 10:12 am
I think I need to make an instructional video at some point, I can’t find one anywhere.
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haha, that is awesome!! I really can’t wait to visit newfoundland. but i would never ever attempt to try to use local words, because i would likely fail miserably. i’ve been trying to use a southern accent while i’m down south, buuut i’m getting funny looks.
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Candice Reply:
March 11th, 2010 at 10:13 am
Hey, an attempt is better than nothing! Hah. Don’t worry, no one would hold it against you.
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Hmmm…. I agree with SpunkyGirl. This should be a weekly post. Give us a word a week, so that when we visit we’ll have a full vocabulary of words we can try out on the locals.
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Candice Reply:
March 11th, 2010 at 10:14 am
Hahaha you know, I might just do that. Next week: nunny fudger!
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Oh man, I can nerd out on linguistics any day of the week. I’d heard about the accent/dialect in Newfoundland, but had no idea what it actually was. Thanks.
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Candice Reply:
March 11th, 2010 at 10:15 am
Hahaha, there is SO much more to it. I need to find some good videos or something!
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Hahaha! Candice, you would make a great teacher! I love your delivery! Strict, no-nonsense, yet approachable and definitively authoratative. I give you an A-plus. Oh, wait. I can’t do that. I’m the student.
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Candice Reply:
March 11th, 2010 at 10:16 am
Lol, first time anyone’s ever said that to me, thanks Sabina! I’ll make this a regular thing, I think.
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Love it Candice. I say with my Aussie lingo and your Newfie speak we could so confuse an entire room of people
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Candice Reply:
March 11th, 2010 at 10:17 am
Oh my god! Can you imagine?! We’d even confuse each other. We need a conversation.
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If you started saying b’y elsewhere (pronouced bye/bi?), do people think you’re accusing them of being bisexual? As thats how this reads to me :/
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Candice Reply:
March 11th, 2010 at 10:17 am
Hahaha no, not at all, that’s never happened to me. It doesn’t really work in context, y’know?
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Love it! I don’t have a respected superior to practice my new language skills on, so I’ll have to talk to my cat.
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Candice Reply:
March 11th, 2010 at 10:18 am
You know, that might be the best “person” to practice on.
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Not a good advertisement for me moving to Newfoundland
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Candice Reply:
March 11th, 2010 at 10:19 am
Aw, come on! I think that’s one of the BEST reasons!
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God I love reading your stuff!!! Great job and I think a post of some of the Newfie sayings would be great. I have always loved (and I hope I have this right) ‘Stay where you are and I’ll come where you’re at.’
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Candice Reply:
March 11th, 2010 at 10:19 am
Close! “Stay where you’re at and I’ll come where you’re to.” Hehehe. Or actually, the other version might be used too. It’s hard to tell sometimes.
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Candice! Suggestion for your next word of the week, or WOW as it may be…Nunny fudger! Look it up! Hilarious.
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Candice Reply:
March 11th, 2010 at 10:19 am
I am SO including that in next week’s post!
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Very fun post, Candice!
I studied Linguistics for my Masters program, so I love this stuff!
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Candice Reply:
March 11th, 2010 at 10:20 am
Hahaha, glad you liked! I’ll keep adding to this list.
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That was just freaking hilarious.
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Candice Reply:
March 11th, 2010 at 10:22 am
Thanks b’y!
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Amazing! I agree it should be a weekly feature. I’d feel much more confident visiting Newfoundland knowing tips like this!!
And I don’t think I’ve said this before, though I’ve thought it, I *love* your writing style!!
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Candice Reply:
March 11th, 2010 at 10:23 am
Thank you kindly!!
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Great post! I have a friend from Newfoundland, sometimes I still have a hard time understanding her. I’ll send this link to her, she’ll love it!
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Candice Reply:
March 11th, 2010 at 10:23 am
Hahaha thanks, and thanks for stopping by. B’y?
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Candice, on a side-note, I am literally on Twitter right now adding you. I kept saying that I was going to do it, and figured there’s no time like the present. LOL.
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Candice Reply:
March 15th, 2010 at 6:52 pm
I haven’t seen your Tweets yet, geeez!! Get started! Hahaha.
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So the big question… Pop or soda? Rubber band or gum band? LOL.
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LMAO! This is awesome! I’m still trying to wrap my head around the correct way to use the word b’y but you’ll have to excuse me. I just finished a 50 hour work week.
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Candice Reply:
March 15th, 2010 at 6:53 pm
One day, I will teach you!
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Some friends of ours tried explaining the Newfoundland accent to us, and eventually sent us a YouTube video with a guy talking about his dogs.
I thought, no joke, I was having a stroke. Absolutely amazing, and I couldn’t understand a word he said (and I grew up in a menagerie of accents, from Italian to English to Aussie to German to god-knows-what, so I usually don’t have a problem with accents).
Please tell me when the instructional videos come out, because speaking like a Newfoundlander is a superpower that I would very much like to have.
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Candice Reply:
March 19th, 2010 at 8:30 am
Hah! Mine’s not even that bad, honestly. I don’t even think I could impersonate some accents I’ve heard around here. I think I might have to get it a shot though.
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