The Government Game: Politics in the DNE

This photos show the angry mob in front of the Colonial Building on April 5, 1932. Photo courtesy of Provincial Archives NL (A2-160).

Thanks to the ELRC’s research assistant Maudie Whelan for the suggestion for this month’s topic, politics in the DNE. Politics are always a hot topic; everywhere you go, everyone has an opinion. This month, in particular, the Provincial Government has been at the forefront of the news media, social media, water cooler chats, dinner parties … one really cannot get away from the raging debates. Whatever side you’re on, even if you’re neutral, you may want to throw some local political terms into the conversation. If you use terms not listed here, please leave a comment below or send us an email!

Spring has (almost) sprung: Spring themes in the DNE

The sealing disaster of 1914 is one of the big spring themes in the DNE and in Newfoundland and Labrador more generally. Pictured here are the S.S. Newfoundland, the sealing ship involved in the disaster, and the S. S. Bellaventure, a rescue ship. Photo courtesy of Maritime History Archive (PF-345.009).

On a more cheerful note:                                                                                                                 Spring has sprung,

The grass is riz,

I wonder where the birdies is!

                                                      “Spring in The Bronx” Anon.

Slowcomes & Shags: Nicknames in the DNE

This is a reminder that better weather is coming. Sheaves Cove is pictured here,
courtesy of Aiden Mahoney.

While the snow continues to pile up on the streets and sidewalks and the long and hungry month of March approaches, beat the winter blues by taking a minute away from the day-to-day to find a little humor in the Dictionary of Newfoundland English. Last year, DNE editor Dr. Kirwin suggested that there were various nicknames in the DNE that might be of interest for a blog entry. Upon investigation, a number of entries appear and many of them are quite amusing. Nicknames can place a person regionally, socially, physically and so on. If you know of Newfoundland and Labrador nicknames that you would like to share, please do so! You can click on the hyperlinked text below to take you to the DNE entry.

Suzanne Power interviewed on Radio Canada International

On Friday November 23, Suzanne Power was interviewed by Gilda Salomone on Radio Canada International. You can check out the interview by clicking here.

Philip Hiscock and the ELRC on the National

It’s been a great couple of weeks for media attention on the DNE and the ELRC, or ‘the Dictionary room’! Philip Hiscock was recently interviewed by Vik Adhopia of the National and the segment was aired on Thursday November 22. You can view the piece by clicking here or copying the following link into your browser: http://www.cbc.ca/player/News/TV%20Shows/The%20National/ID/2308351505/

Check out some photographs from the DNE’s anniversary celebrations!

We were fortunate to have a couple of photographers in the audience. Thanks to Philip Hiscock, Don Tarrant, and George Klima for capturing some great moments during the celebrations. If you happened to be there and took some pictures, send them along and we’ll add them to the gallery!

DNE 30th anniversary was a success!

Things are gradually getting back to normal here at the ELRC. The 30th anniversary celebrations for the Dictionary of Newfoundland English were a great success! Despite the rain and cold over the weekend, there was a great turnout. The story-telling event went extremely well with speakers telling their stories about the editors and their colleagues, giving the audience a little glimpse of the characters involved in the creation of the DNE. Some stories were funny, others were touching. Dr. William J. Kirwin was in attendance and received a standing ovation for his tireless research and dedication to the study of Newfoundland English and culture. Local musician Boyd Chubbs provided the perfect background to a lovely reception after the event and even finished off with some holiday cheer in the form of a Christmas carol.

The symposium on Saturday was full of interesting papers on a broad range of topics from an interdisciplinary roster of students and faculty, all celebrating Newfoundland and Labrador language, history, folklore and more! Reporters stopped by from the CBC and the Telegram. The Telegram feature was printed yesterday and you can read it by clicking here. During the ELRC tour, a couple of people offered new words that are not in the DNE cllection and enjoyed seeing the digitization interface in action as well as the double-keyboard typewriter that will now stay on display in the ELRC.

The anniversary celebrations have created some buzz outside of the university community as well with CBC running a contest earlier this morning asking listeners to call in with favourite words from or words that should be in the DNE.

Stay tuned for event pictures to be added next week and maybe a sound file or two from the story-telling event!

Thanks to the President’s office, the VP Academic, the Departments of English and Linguistics for co-sponsoring these events. A huge thank you to all the story-tellers, presenters, organizers, volunteers, and audience members who came together to celebrate with us!