Get Lost in Conversation

Get Lost in Conversation
April 2013 eNewsletter

A Language of Our Own

Shaped over centuries by countless fabled influences, the language of Newfoundland and Labrador is our province's most charming and irresistible quality. A fascinating mosaic of words, phrases, and accents make our speech as colourful as the land where it is spoken. A yarn, tale, or narrative can be told through conversation, or through song. Lilting, or chin music, is a form of traditional Celtic singing that is still practiced in Newfoundland and Labrador. Visit Lilting.ca to download the free soundtrack and join the conversation.

You're Never Stuck for Words

There are hundreds of English dialects found here - more than anywhere else in the world. Enough, in fact, to merit our very own dictionary. If someone asked you to have a chaw over a cup of tea, would you know what they meant? What if they said it was getting duckish outside, or that they got chinched at the local pub? Visit our Facebook page to find these words, and stay tuned for our Word of the Week posted every Friday.

Wooden Boat Building

Wooden boat building in Newfoundland and Labrador is a tradition passed down by word of mouth through the generations. Because nothing is ever written down, the survival of this beautiful craft depends solely on conversation and storytelling. To learn more about the practice of handing down knowledge through storytelling, check out Alyssa's blog highlighting the ritual of wooden boat building. Or, watch this charming vignette and listen as Jerome Canning, master boat builder, gives us insight into the art form at the Wooden Boat Museum.