You'd have to be a Newfoundlander to understand that "Jumpin' dyin' Lard tunderin'" might or might not be a declaration of anger. It could also signify fright, surprise, disbelief, sarcasm, even extreme excitement, depending on how it's said.
These are the kind of uniquely Newfoundland phrases Don Maher and Danielle Dawe are looking for to include in their book, "A String of Oaths: Creative Cursing in Newfoundland and Labrador."
Maher said the idea for a book of local curses has been in his head for about five years, after hearing numerous creative, funny and terrible phrases while growing up on the Southern Shore. About a month ago, he included Dawe, a Memorial University philosophy graduate student and friend of his, in the project.
Together, they set up a Facebook group under the book's working title, asking for suggestions for creative Newfoundland curses. So far, the response has been overwhelming, with more than 530 people joining the group in the past three weeks, offering such well-known gems as "Lard lamp lightin'" and "for frig's sake," among other, even more colourful phrases.
"We've had Newfoundlanders from all over Canada and Europe giving us suggestions, and comparing and contrasting curses," Maher said. "A lot of them are saying, 'I can't say things like that here, because people can't get what I'm saying, and they don't understand.'
"They're just examples of the colourful language we use in regular speech here in Newfoundland. It's a perfect example of how we can be creative, and it comes down to the wit we're all known for."
Road show
Maher and Dawe plan to continue researching their book until the fall, and will be travelling the island during the summer, collecting curses from different communities.
They'll also be looking - believe it or not - to speak to seniors in nursing homes, to get some curses from days gone by.
"My first job was as a recreation assistant in a nursing home, and I've found that the residents are always open to guests, and talking about themselves and sharing stories," Dawe said. "I'm sure it won't be everyone's cup of tea, but I think we'll get some great stories."
Maher and Dawe plan to include stories in the book along with the strings of oaths, as well as some background and history of the words, and cultural information.
They hope to start approaching publishers with their book in the fall.
The pair feels the book will be something all Newfoundlanders can relate to and find amusing, whether or not they've ever uttered the phrases themselves.
"It's probably not going to be the main book on someone's coffee table," Maher said with a laugh. "But I think people who wouldn't normally be heard saying the phrases will enjoy it as much as anyone."
Maher and Dawe are working on a website, www.creativecursing.com, where people can submit their favourite curses.
In the meantime, they're accepting them by e-mail at creativecursing@hotmail.com and creativecursing@gmail.com, as well as through their Facebook group, called "A String of Oaths: Creative Cursing in Newfoundland and Labrador."
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Photo by Joe Gibbons/The Telegram
Don Maher and Danielle Dawe are turning the Internet blue looking for the province's most colourful language
You'd have to be a Newfoundlander to understand that "Jumpin' dyin' Lard tunderin'" might or might not be a declaration of anger. It could also signify fright, surprise, disbelief, sarcasm, even extreme excitement, depending on how it's said.
These are the kind of uniquely Newfoundland phrases Don Maher and Danielle Dawe are looking for to include in their book, "A String of Oaths: Creative Cursing in Newfoundland and Labrador."
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Comments
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- Frank
- - July 2nd, 2010 at 13:26:51
very well put! You have covered all bases of who we are and what we speak no matter where we live in Eastern Canada. The only difference, the folks from Nova Scotia put ham in their pea soup, whereas, Newfoundlanders put salt meat
Long may your big jib draw.
Frank Blackwood
Newfoundland Writer
Richmond Hill, Ont. -
- Kay
- - July 2nd, 2010 at 13:24:13
I think the idea is brilliant and will be very entertaining to read. Our sayings and dialect are one of the most notable characteristics of being a Newfoundlander. To say that our cultural aspects are similar to the rest of Atlantic Canada is true in a sense since most of our ancestors originated from many of the same areas of Europe, but our continuing to speak the way our ancestors did is unique to this province. At least thats one thing we have left that the 'mainlanders' can't take away from us!
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- G S
- - July 2nd, 2010 at 13:12:11
As a long time resident of Newfoundland who is avidly intrigued and fond of the province's strong cultural identity I am also quick to recognise generalisations and assumptions that seem to permeate through efforts like this. I grew up in nearby Nova Scotia and often take note of not just the differences but the similarities in our cultural identities. In many cases what is professed to be Newfoundland culture is simply a part of a broader Atlantic Canadian culture that people from other parts of the country or beyond are unfamiliar with. Newfoundland has no shortage of its own unique flavour but be assured that many of the songs, expressions, and attitudes are shared by your nearby neighbours. And the fact that someone in Halifax is unfamiliar with an expression or song by no means implies that people of other more rural areas of the Maritimes have never heard or heard of it. You can't base your definition on Newfoundland culture on the reaction of cowboys in Alberta who don't know a dory from a barge. Even THE Dictionary of Newfoundland English includes many words that are used in other places (and admittedly many that are not). If a book is being compiled on the colourful Newfoundland language I wouldn't include such common expressions as for frig's sake for example as what English speaking child would not have used that on the path to more vulgar explitives? I feel the same way about the title of folk music show VOCM on Saturday mornings. Why would a show that plays tradtional style music from groups and artists based all over eastern Canada and the British Isles and numerous songs that have no connection to either Newfoundland or Ireland use such a title? It would lead the uneducated to believe that the contents of the programme are exclusively Irish and Newfoundland in nature. I applaud the concept but suggest an informed and well researched approach. Best of luck!
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- Frank
- - July 1st, 2010 at 20:14:02
very well put! You have covered all bases of who we are and what we speak no matter where we live in Eastern Canada. The only difference, the folks from Nova Scotia put ham in their pea soup, whereas, Newfoundlanders put salt meat
Long may your big jib draw.
Frank Blackwood
Newfoundland Writer
Richmond Hill, Ont. -
- Kay
- - July 1st, 2010 at 20:09:43
I think the idea is brilliant and will be very entertaining to read. Our sayings and dialect are one of the most notable characteristics of being a Newfoundlander. To say that our cultural aspects are similar to the rest of Atlantic Canada is true in a sense since most of our ancestors originated from many of the same areas of Europe, but our continuing to speak the way our ancestors did is unique to this province. At least thats one thing we have left that the 'mainlanders' can't take away from us!
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- G S
- - July 1st, 2010 at 19:49:15
As a long time resident of Newfoundland who is avidly intrigued and fond of the province's strong cultural identity I am also quick to recognise generalisations and assumptions that seem to permeate through efforts like this. I grew up in nearby Nova Scotia and often take note of not just the differences but the similarities in our cultural identities. In many cases what is professed to be Newfoundland culture is simply a part of a broader Atlantic Canadian culture that people from other parts of the country or beyond are unfamiliar with. Newfoundland has no shortage of its own unique flavour but be assured that many of the songs, expressions, and attitudes are shared by your nearby neighbours. And the fact that someone in Halifax is unfamiliar with an expression or song by no means implies that people of other more rural areas of the Maritimes have never heard or heard of it. You can't base your definition on Newfoundland culture on the reaction of cowboys in Alberta who don't know a dory from a barge. Even THE Dictionary of Newfoundland English includes many words that are used in other places (and admittedly many that are not). If a book is being compiled on the colourful Newfoundland language I wouldn't include such common expressions as for frig's sake for example as what English speaking child would not have used that on the path to more vulgar explitives? I feel the same way about the title of folk music show VOCM on Saturday mornings. Why would a show that plays tradtional style music from groups and artists based all over eastern Canada and the British Isles and numerous songs that have no connection to either Newfoundland or Ireland use such a title? It would lead the uneducated to believe that the contents of the programme are exclusively Irish and Newfoundland in nature. I applaud the concept but suggest an informed and well researched approach. Best of luck!
