How a US island kept hold of its 17th Century dialect

[oldbrownhat]

I'd heard of this before. BBC video article here.

The story of Ocracoke Island, North Carolina is rich in tales of pirates, Native American fishing and English sailors, but one of its greatest legacies is a very unique dialect. Due to the island being isolated for centuries, their 'Hoi Toider' brogue sounds more like it's from South West England than the United States, though it is now facing a bleak future.​

Interesting that the word "dingbatter" came from Archie Bunker when they got TV in 1972.

 

[Golddollar]

There is a similarly situated island in the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland called Smith Island. I visited there some 20 years ago and listening to local people I could hear an accent unlike any I had heard before.

Smith Island has a lasting legacy, the Smith Island Cake, a cake with traditionally at least 8 layers. The Smith Island Cake was officially adopted as the State Dessert of Maryland.

 

[biku324]

You run into archaic American English terms in the Philippines as well, where current billing for hospital services may include 'medical contraptions.' Custodians at military and national police camps are still referred to as 'strikers,' a term at least as old as our Civil War.

 

[Onomea]

Tangier Island, in Chesapeake Bay, as well.

For several years in my early adolescence my family would drive down from Virginia to Ocracoke Island for a week's vacation in the summer. Only way to get there then was by ferry from Hatteras. I believe there is a bridge now. The beaches were, essentially, empty.

Fond memories of bygone years.

 

[Doug M.]

I loaded paper in a small town in rural downeast Maine back in 1992 or so. I can't recall the name of the town, which is unusual for me. Usually I got loaded at a warehouse not far from Portland. There was a guy there who had an accent I could neither identify nor comprehend, which as far as I can recall is the only time that has ever happened to me. It seemed to be some form of English, but ... I dunno, isolated highland Scotland or something? Didn't sound like anyone else from Maine that I had ever encountered, and I used to spend a lot of time there.

 

[Chuck24]

Also some small enclaves in the Gloucester Va and Poquoson

 

[arjay]

My father spoke a German dialect specific to an area and era in the alps. He left shortly after the war ended. On his last trip back home in the 90s,his family that still lived in the old country teased the hell out of him about it [emoji44][emoji4]

 

[dmar]

Spend some time in Maine, and/or the backwoods of NH and you'll find some very interesting dialects.

 

[BAM-BAM]

Guess "yinz" never been to the Burgh!!

 

[billwill]

Onomea.............no bridge from Hatteras to Ocracoke, you still have to take a ferry that travels in a snake like voyage due to constant shoaling of the inlet. I have had many rides to Ocracoke on a ferry that is bumping off the edges of the shoal. Great place to visit but it has changed a lot and much of the village charm is vanishing.

Travel time ( 1hr + to 2hr +)varies by departure spot, Hatteras, Cedar Island or Swan Quarter. You can still hear the accent many times with true locals. That accent can be heard throughout "Down East" and especially on Harkers Island

 

[Greyman50]

Use to hang out on " The Outer Banks" in the 60's, the good ole days. Few places to eat and few hotels and motels. We would head down on weekends from Tidewater Va. Never get away with what we did back then today......

 

[m75rlg]

And then there are the islands of South Carolina and Georgia.

Gullah - The Creole language of the Gullah, having an English base with elements from various West African languages. It has about 125,000 speakers.

 

[WCCPHD]

The High Tider accent is also observed along the Roanoke River (which empties into the Albemarle Sound) up to Lake Gaston and Kerr Lake. It also traveled up the Dan River (Dan and Roanoke come together to form Kerr Lake). I was raised about five miles from Milton, NC (home of VIR) and those who live along the Dan River in Milton also have a hint of the High Tider accent.