Newfie: Difference between revisions
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[[Image:carlb-fogo-newfoundland-ducks-2002.jpg|right|thumb|360px|Scene from an [[outport]] (small fishing village) in Newfoundland]] |
[[Image:carlb-fogo-newfoundland-ducks-2002.jpg|right|thumb|360px|Scene from an [[outport]] (small fishing village) in Newfoundland]] |
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"'''Newfie'''" is a colloquial term used in [[Canada]] for one who is from [[Newfoundland]]. It was first recorded in [[1942]], in a dictionary of [[slang]]; at the time, "Newfie" was used to refer either to Newfoundland itself, or to the [[ |
"'''Newfie'''" is a colloquial term used in [[Canada]] for one who is from [[Newfoundland]]. It was first recorded in [[1942]], in a dictionary of [[slang]]; at the time, "Newfie" was used to refer either to Newfoundland itself, or to the [[Newfoundlander|Newfoundlanders]] (who were also "Newfiers"). |
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The term Newfie has been applied to the [[Newfoundland]] people (properly addressed as Newfoundlanders). It also can refer to items of Newfoundland origin such as the "Newfie Bullet" (a nickname created by [[United States|American]] military personnel serving at bases in Newfoundland during the [[Second World War]] for a former, notoriously slow [[passenger]] [[train]] named the ''[[Caribou (train)|Caribou]]'' which ran from [[Channel-Port aux Basques, Newfoundland and Labrador|Port-aux-Basques]] to [[St John's, Newfoundland and Labrador|St John's]]), "Newfie screech" ([[brand name|brand]] of Newfoundland [[Newfoundland Screech|rum]]) or even a large furry affectionate [[Newfoundland dog]] (Newfoundland and Labrador is the only [[province]] to have provided the names of two [[dog]]s). |
The term Newfie has been applied to the [[Newfoundland]] people (properly addressed as Newfoundlanders). It also can refer to items of Newfoundland origin such as the "Newfie Bullet" (a nickname created by [[United States|American]] military personnel serving at bases in Newfoundland during the [[Second World War]] for a former, notoriously slow [[passenger]] [[train]] named the ''[[Caribou (train)|Caribou]]'' which ran from [[Channel-Port aux Basques, Newfoundland and Labrador|Port-aux-Basques]] to [[St John's, Newfoundland and Labrador|St John's]]), "Newfie screech" ([[brand name|brand]] of Newfoundland [[Newfoundland Screech|rum]]) or even a large furry affectionate [[Newfoundland dog]] (Newfoundland and Labrador is the only [[province]] to have provided the names of two [[dog]]s). |
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Revision as of 19:57, 11 June 2006
"Newfie" is a colloquial term used in Canada for one who is from Newfoundland. It was first recorded in 1942, in a dictionary of slang; at the time, "Newfie" was used to refer either to Newfoundland itself, or to the Newfoundlanders (who were also "Newfiers").
The term Newfie has been applied to the Newfoundland people (properly addressed as Newfoundlanders). It also can refer to items of Newfoundland origin such as the "Newfie Bullet" (a nickname created by American military personnel serving at bases in Newfoundland during the Second World War for a former, notoriously slow passenger train named the Caribou which ran from Port-aux-Basques to St John's), "Newfie screech" (brand of Newfoundland rum) or even a large furry affectionate Newfoundland dog (Newfoundland and Labrador is the only province to have provided the names of two dogs).
Ethnic jokes
The "Newf" or "Newfie" terms are considered derogatory by many Newfoundlanders owing to their use in "Newfie jokes", typical Canadian ethnic jokes told and retold since the days of the bankruptcy of the Dominion of Newfoundland government during the Great Depression. The jokes almost always insult the Newfoundlander's intelligence, but many Newfoundlanders tell these jokes to each other - Newfoundland humour is renowned for it's self-effacing qualities.
Most jokes were originally created (in nearly identical form) to insult the intelligence of other groups such as the Irish, Polish or Belgians.
Occasionally, Canadian place names are substituted into these old jokes.
"Newfie", however, is sometimes considered far less derogatory than "Newf", which is more associated with the insult "Dumb Newf" and, thus, is very rarely used by Newfoundlanders themselves. Many Newfoundlanders, and even others with some strong "Newfie" connection, proudly refer to themselves as "Newfies".
The use of the term has also become a means of racially offensive description of individuals, not normally a resident of Newfoundland, in a derogatory context. The March 2006 disciplining of an Edmonton police officer that had used the word Newphie to describe the apprehension of an individual under the Canada Mental Health Act highlights the extent of racial discrimination associated with the word Newfie, and not the endearing term it is generally understood to portray. [1] This explicitly derogatory usage is particularly prevalent in locations (such as northern Alberta) where large numbers of Newfoundlanders have migrated for economic opportunities.