One of my co-workers, KM, has been vacationing back home in Newfoundland. He came back with a saying that's priceless: "You're so smart, you should go away!"
Of course it's layered with meaning. If you're smart you will leave Newfoundland for greener pastures, better jobs, better economy. At the same time, it's insulting: "Get out of here, you smart-ass!" Of course, Newfoundland needs to keep its smart young people - what province can afford to lose them?
I've never met a people (and I'm counting all the Newfoundlanders I've ever met which is quite a few) who are so clever at word play, who have such a charming sense of humour, whose expressions tickle one so. KM says he'll have to re-adjust his accent to Ottawa again having been exposed to Newfoundlandese for several days.
If you like words from different origins, check out the Dictionary of Newfoundland English; there are some wonderfully different words. One can't help but think of other influences. For instance: "alley-coosh" meaning "go to bed". If you know French, it's almost phonetically the same as "allez coucher" which is pronouced: allay coushay...ummm. Not much detective work there. EH, another NFLD friend has told me about brewis: sea-biscuit or 'hard tack' soaked in water and then boiled with salt cod and fat pork. Ya know you're a Newfoundlander if you've tried brewis!
When I visited St. John's, I was advised "Yous got to try cod cheeks or cod tongue!" (Yes, "yous" is another delightful Newfoundlandism.) Well I have to admit cod cheeks are delicious! I wasn't there long enough to found an establishment serving cod tongue tho.
If you haven't been, go visit Newfoundland one day. I promise: it'll be unforgettable!
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