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Newfoundland Irish (Irish: Gaeilge Talamh an Éisc) is a dialect of the Irish language specific to the island of Newfoundland and widely spoken until the mid-20th century. It is very similar to the language heard in the southeast of Ireland centuries ago, due to mass immigration from the counties Tipperary, Waterford, Wexford and Cork.
The Irish language was commonly spoken among the Newfoundland Irish until the middle of the 20th century. There is direct evidence to suggest that as high as 90% of the Irish in Newfoundland spoke only Irish as their mother tongue. Records from Newfoundland's courts, where defendants often required Irish-speaking interpreters, indicate that the dominant language of the Avalon Peninsula was Irish rather than English. Ecclesiastical documents from previous centuries bolster this case—for example, in letters to Dublin requesting a Franciscan missionary for the parishes of St. Mary's and Trepassey, Bishop James Louis O'Donel indicated that it is absolutely necessary that he should speak Irish.
A 2001 census report indicates that there are 10 men in Newfoundland whose mother tongue is a Gaelic language . However, the report does not specify which Gaelic languages are included in this figure. In principle, it is possible that these 10 people speak Newfoundland Irish; however, it is also possible that they are immigrants from Ireland who speak "Irish" Irish. Scholars at Memorial University of Newfoundland have concluded that Newfoundland Irish became extinct during the 20th century .
Both the Irish language and Hiberno-English have had a clear and noticeable impact on the dialect of English spoken in Newfoundland, known as Newfoundland English.
Newfoundland is the only place outside Europe with its own distinctive name in the Irish language, Talamh an Éisc, literally "Land of the Fish ".
See also
External links
- Newfoundland: The Most Irish Place Outside of Ireland
- Dictionary of Newfoundland English Online
- Statistics Canada 2001 Census Information
- A discussion board for Irish expatriates, Irish descendants and Irish people alike, specifically South East Ireland
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