Der 'tis and der can't be no tiser: Newfoundland stories told by Clarence Squires

[@gordonremsey8055]

I'm Irish and can understand them completely ahah. Crazy how Irish they sound

[@patriciakeats1621]

Cause he is “Irish” 🙂 I miss hearing our accent.

[@houcinenyange945]

Makes sense you can understand them :) I’m Canadian and I know the history. Alot of first Canadian settlers came from Ireland and Scotland and settled in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland.

[@erysisnthere]

my family is all from newfoundland and i've been around newfie accents my whole life but i can only pick up a little over half what the man is saying lmao

[@stclerans]

Hahah same i feel like I’m listening to all uncles and dad and grandad and ppl around me talking I can understand every word

[@ItsJustMe0585]

For some reason, even though I'm from Texas, I have no problem understanding Newfies... Or Irish folks for that matter. When I go drinking here in Alberta, we got a bud from Newfoundland. He gets drunk and his accent goes so hardcore that I translate his words for my boyfriend, who then tells me what all his metaphors and figures of speech mean.... Mostly sexual shit, but it is what it is. Lol

[@Missuskeefe]

as each elder in the communities dies we lose a piece of our history. More people need to get out and record the old tales. Our history and our legacy is being lost every single day. It NEEDS to be preserved. The generation of the hard times needs to be told to our future generations. It is essential.

[@billyboots3730]

I just lost my grandfather in august at age 89, i will never forget the stories he told me of either hardships or happy times. I was blessed to have such an awesome grandfather to look up to.

[@suzieq0452]

My dad was a great story teller.this man reminds me of listening to my dad. thank you.he passed in 1998. born in1910.

[@tarheelmtl]

God Bless you both and your families hallelujah

[@edwinmoore4638]

my grandfather was born 1911 passed away same year i was born 1995 he was also from newfoundland

[@DaniHMcV]

“All hands not telling lies, right”. I can remember my Dad saying “all hands” all the time which means “everyone”, like “all hands on deck”. I miss home so much and just hearing this man tell these stories makes it a little better :)

[@celticloverush2]

You could drop that man in the middle of County Wexford and nobody would think he didn't live there all his life, amazing how the accent survived so intact.

[@902TwoStroke]

I’m from Nova Scotia, all me grand fadders tell me stories like that dere all the time and we all talks like he does too. Loves the Newfie’s

[@tiffaniterris2886]

My wife is from Pictou county, been all over Scotia. Never, ever, ever have I heard a Scotian accent sound anything close to a Newfies, or Irish for that matter.

[@chrislacey8776]

It's crazy how similar the accent is to us Irish. It's similar to south eastern dialect of Waterford/Wexford/Kilkenny

[@Shwee113]

Lots of immigrants from Ireland came to Newfoundland. Behind Ireland, it's had the largest Irish-speaking population.

[@Themes4Voice]

Yeah, more similar to Cornish, though.

[@chrisskuse2945]

nathan3560 nah it sounds closer to Irish

[@yrrab2381]

Galway mostly from the famine ships

[@yrrab2381]

@@KyleEricksonPoetry1617 dont ever compare the English accent to the lrish accent you prick, the main reason for the irish been there is because of the English

[@tonyhart97]

I'm getting Kerry, Donegal and Dublin all in one accent, from a man that has probably never left Canada

[@anitabest3648]

He may actually never have been to Canada

[@Comencenala]

Or off the island.

[@Snoodles294]

@@anitabest3648.....He lived in Newfoundland, Canada....on the southern shore, which is aka the Irish loop. Mostly all Irish settlers here

[@Snoodles294]

@@anitabest3648.....He lived in Newfoundland, Canada....on the southern shore, which is aka the Irish loop. Mostly all Irish settlers here in this part of the province

[@anitabest3648]

@@Snoodles294 I meant he was probably born before Confederation. I can understand him perfectly. I have relatives on the Southern Shore.

[@Cybernetic800]

I love how they have kept our/the Irish accent after all these years. Lots of love and God bless from Ireland ❤️

[@Manu-et9rj]

I can't understand a thing, but I'm sure that story is lovely

[@marietg8025]

That's because it's essentially Irish 😅 I understand him like he was my neighbour

[@patriciakeats1621]

Marie Tg I miss hearing our old accents

[@ll-fe5ed]

he’s telling ghost stories

[@lostthychef4831]

I’m American and I can understand every few words and I liked this story.

[@craigsheppard7576]

Being from the island, we fellers understands what he's sayin.

[@applescruff1969]

I understand what he's saying. I'm from America.

[@aronharper7001]

There's a large population of Newfies here in Fort McMurray, AB. All I know is they are the best kind of people and great to have a drink with.

[@katiecharette86]

Reminds me of my Gramma's voice... She was born in NFLD in 1914❤️ haven't heard her in over 20 years

[@jillreads6142]

I can’t understand a damn thing, but continue telling your stories.

[@patriciakeats1621]

Funny 😄 “I knows what he’s sayin”

[@caitlinhickey6]

Your name certainly checks out.

[@fiddlesticks1962]

@@caitlinhickey6 Your name certainly creeps out.

[@big.wlattt6872]

I could listen to this man for hours and hours on end and not get tired of it

[@terrialaniz1330]

This is such a beautiful thing to have recorded and you will appreciate it more and more as you get older. I wish I recorded the stories my nan used to tell me when she was alive. The ones about the fairies and how her mother wouldn't let them go out in the woods without silver coins to ward off the faries always sparked interest. I've been away from Newfoundland so long my sons and husband haven't any idea of the culture of where I am from or even some of the things I say. You did a beautiful job on this video with the editing as well. So much can be learned from our elders about our heritage and this video is very much appreciated.

[@NuisanceMan]

It's beautiful, but I'm not too sure what he said!

[@patriciakeats1621]

💕

[@patriciakeats1621]

I miss our culture too

[@patriciakeats1621]

I really like when he said, “she slewed he’s face right over”

[@patriciakeats1621]

“She led me astray be the fairies”

[@72mossy]

I'm Irish and from Tipperary, can't pick up any Canadian accent from him only Irish, my dad is 83 and grew up in tough times as well, my dad refers to the radio as the wireless.

[@user-bd2qd9pu9i]

My grandfather from my fathers side sadly missed I remember hearing most of these stories growing up

[@travelingmntngal7963]

My Grandfather was from Gaskiers-Point La Haye. Your grandfather sounds just like him. What a treat for me as my grandfather has been gone since the early 90s. Nice to hear this. Thanks!

[@FernBlackwood1995]

I’m Nova Scotian, and this might be one of the funniest and best storytellers off the coast I’ve heard in a good while. Thanks for the laughs, buddy!

[@kcramone4854]

my condolences .Tears were involved. God bless you for this cast.

[@dannyanderson1947]

If you listen to older West Country English you can hear similarities. You can also hear features found in Southern American English due to both having a West Country influence. Overwhelmingly though it sounds Irish as hell, love it. I'm a Geordie and can understand this perfectly maybes because I've been exposed to Irish accents and alot of the sounds also appear in our dialect due to Irish influence on Geordie and both dialects being archaic.

[@wyattkoch7097]

Oh man this reminds me of when my grandpa would always tell me and my siblings ghost stories. This really takes me back.

[@MrMorgan_008]

I was raised up in Garden Cove, and it makes me so happy to hear the conversation with you all.

[@d.pollett1812]

An absolute treasure.

[@slake9727]

I'm from Witless Bay, well done Clarence. Miss my hometown so much.

[@smitzr]

Awesome job. Please keep getting thus stuff recorded. : ) It's our history.

[@freesmelly1169]

Now imagine me, raised in paradise, trying to have a conversation with my older relatives that doesn’t consist of me saying “what?”

[@lexsduck6892]

now imagine me a Quebeker that speaks an okay normal english thrown on a ship which was crewed entirely with newfoundlanders.

[@piecesofstarlight]

You poor unfortunate soul 🤣 Now I need to know. Do you speak French with a Newfie Accent. Do you confuse the Whole world with a Quebec accent and a Newfie Accented English 🤣

[@caitlinhickey6]

@@lexsduck6892 This is a very old video of an old man who was born before Newfoundland joined Canada. He has an old accent that no longer exists here. Newfoundlanders can speak in perfect standard English.

[@COM70]

@@caitlinhickey6 i wonder if that would be like a frozen Irish accent from 2-300 years ago ? If so then little would have changed in Ireland until the 70’s now we have social media and we are hearing gradually towards whatever the Cardashians have.

[@fiddlesticks1962]

@@caitlinhickey6 Shut up, you fabricating fool!

[@Mftw767]

Greetings from co limerick.i can understand every word .makes me proud to be Irish

[@infaereld2055]

Fantastic accent. Thank you.

[@nancyc5922]

Reminds me of nights around the woodstove and grandfather tellin stories

[@reannaholdford2413]

This makes me miss home 💚💚

[@kianah8866]

I'm from New Brunswick and I can just about 95% understand the Newfoundland accent

[@niamhbrunell]

Very similar to the Irish accent. I'm Irish and can understand him perfectly. You can hear the Canadian twang no doubt, there's still a difference, but it is very similar.

[@sheteg1]

@niamh. He’s not Canadian. He’s a Newfoundlander born before 1949 before they joined Canada. It’s a huge island on the North Atlantic. Nothing Canadian about it. This man had no affiliation with the country of Canada or anyone on the mainland. Absolutely no Canadian twang.

[@beachboys3326]

​@@sheteg1 Oh fiddlesticks! What a load of hooey you're spouting. 😂

[@ryantwitter343]

@@beachboys3326it’s true. Saying he’s Canadian is a misnomer

[@notsnho]

@@beachboys3326he was born a Newfoundlander not Canadian, we only joined Canada recently. And he’s right Newfoundland doesn’t have many “Canadian” factors about it, it’s more connected to Ireland then it’s own country

[@KimNeville-vr8hn]

​@@ryantwitter343 Bullshit 🙄

[@stuartperry-hughes5969]

If you’re struggling to follow, the transcript is very accurate

[@verticalhurt]

I'll give the old guy a thumbs up, even though I couldn't understand a god damn thing he was saying :)

[@djtandy7884]

that's a wexford accent 🇨🇮

[@tarheelmtl]

God Bless you hallelujah what a blessing it is the lord has sent the ancestors west so we can partake as well

[@patriciakeats1621]

For sure. That’s where our Irish people are from.

[@hunterfudge2597]

Kilkenny, Wexford and Waterford are the most common places for Newfoundlanders of Irish decent to come rrom

[@lionelhutz5137]

Lots of families from the Wexford, Cork, and Waterford areas. 🇮🇪

[@ItsOPji]

I hopes I’m like this when I gets older, got no stories to tell yet though

[@CalebMeadetman2015]

I can understand most of what he says. I'm from the Southern US.

[@tiffaniterris2886]

And to think Boston thinks they rep the Irish.

[@lenhowl]

Clarence used to drop into our house in the Goulds years ago to have a yarn with my father. I think he used to drive a truck hauling fish then.

[@darrenmartin708]

Len Howl he sounds irish

[@lenhowl]

Yes all the crowd up the southern shore have an Irish sound to them.

[@jojokabo78]

Haha im in the Goulds right now :)

[@sheddski2942]

My mothers whole family came from St. John’s Newfoundland and my grandfather fought in France during WW1 and was wounded and couldn’t work and never drove a car after my grandmother died he met another women she was from Nova Scotia he moved to Yarmouth where he is buried there

[@hobbedgoblin10]

i understand every second thing he says bc my grandpa’s from labrador and has a pretty thick accent. it’s crazy how certain places have such different accents from other places, almost like they’re 2 different languages

[@tripplewhipper]

if you want a laugh try turning on the auto generated subtitles

[@somebread1006]

M’y mind may not completely understand this but my soul did fuckin rights 🥺

[@COM70]

I think he is wandering slightly. Everything he says is clear but not all the stories are complete or well explained. We still have mummers ! We call it dreoilín.

[@TheMrPeteChannel]

This sounds closer to Irish English then mainland Canadian English.

[@caitlinhickey6]

Yes because this is an old recording of a very old man who’s since passed. The man was born when Newfoundland was still a British colony and was not yet part of Canada. This is an old accent. The accents among the younger generations have since evolved and are not the same as this mans.

[@tiffaniterris2886]

@@caitlinhickey6 - when Newfoundland joined confederation has no bearing on the accents of Newfies compared to those of mainland Canada though... like, none at all.

[@fiddlesticks1962]

@@caitlinhickey6 We heard ya the first 20 times you said it. Quit repeating yourself like a broken record.

[@beachboys3326]

​@@caitlinhickey6 Bullshit

[@KimNeville-vr8hn]

​@@caitlinhickey6 Fake news 😂

[@wissiemd]

Jesus, any Fairy story used to freak me right out!

[@eoinfenton3416]

If I heard this without knowing he was from Newfoundland I would think he was from Waterford without a doubt

[@thebuzz2010]

This is a west Kerry accent 99% with 1% of something else. Interesting

[@thebiblerefutesheretics2054]

Newfies always grow up being afraid of the “fairies”. 😁 They’re always “hidin in da woods”. Lol.

[@MiningAway6494]

As a Newfie I completely understand

[@thenextshenanigantownandth4393]

He sounds so Irish xD

[@jillreads6142]

That’s the Newfie accent for ya. Lots of settlers from Ireland moved to Newfoundland land. (Though Newfoundland hasn’t always been a part of Canada.)

[@tiffaniterris2886]

@@jillreads6142 - Nor has a lot of what is now Canada. They just happened to be the last to join confederation.

[@routliffer]

I got radio and that's it so far 😂

[@emilywhittle1420]

I guess as a Newfie I just don’t get how people can’t understand us. Adding subtitles might’ve helped the mainlanders though 😉.

[@christiancowper9508]

Question for Newfies: do the English-descended and Irish-descended Newfoundlanders sound different?

[@logybaygroovers]

yes in a way but it more depends where and when you were raised. there are a lot of dialects on the island with many contributing factors

[@punchion]

Most definitely. The Irish descendants came mostly from Wexford/ Waterford area and they sound more Irish. The English are from around Devon area and I notice that a lot of them drop their " h " when they speak. My folks came from Waterford in the 1700s.

[@dennisfitzgerald9434]

Yes, very much so. Catholic would have more Irish accent and sayings, vs Protestants sound more English Proper without slang.

[@shawnkavanagh2951]

very much so. I grew up in the Irish Catholic portion of the province in the far Southeast where this man is from- we were very isolated communities in the old days. As a result of the isolation, the Southeast Ireland accents were still strong in these regions until recently. The rural, English founded communities had the same impact due to isolation but they typically were settled a century or so before the Irish communities, so the accents aren't as "fresh".

[@dudeman69abc123]

The generation i miss most about back home.

[@audreyking4721]

Love storeys understand well

[@kylie6243]

This is so cute.

[@joshlewis5065]

Sounds like mid south Ireland

[@MilkyKilky]

I can understand about 80 percent of this.

[@breakingthebracketband8946]

Did he say Red Bay at one point? I knows where dat is

[@trinnnnnnnn.]

im newfi i can understand literally every word and thats a pretty storng accent and its so funny

[@pfaffdaddy169]

This is not that thick quite understandable I work as a sailor and some of these guys are very hard to comprehend.....we get evaluated at the end of the season these guys get a one out of five most the time lol.

[@pfaffdaddy169]

You can’t understand them at all if they speak to quickly . It is for radio communication and general communication

[@davido1953]

what language is this?

[@jakenadalachgile1836]

Newfoundland English

[@KennyPagley]

I can get most of it

[@simone5142]

Oh shit! I will be living in Newfoundland as a exchange student next year, and out of pure curiosity I googled Newfoundland accent's... this video sounded more like chinese than english to me... i'm gonna have a hard time understanding the language there.

[@thenextshenanigantownandth4393]

Doesn't sound anything like Chinese, you're a troll.

[@jojokabo78]

@@thenextshenanigantownandth4393 Its an expression....

[@thenextshenanigantownandth4393]

@@jojokabo78 It doesn't sound all that foreign or hard to understand ether to English speaking countries anyway. I think this might be a issue with you because English is not your first language, hmm? You sound incomprehensible to them.

[@jojokabo78]

@@thenextshenanigantownandth4393 With all due respect, I live and am from a 15 minute drive from where this wonderful video was shot. Over the years I've met many a student or traveler that has had trouble picking up on our different accents, from the Irish Loop, Burin, Cape Shore etc. Even the English speakers. They get it in no time, as I'm sure the lady coming to school will also. I took umbrage to calling you her a troll. Sure it maybe easy for you, but not everyone I can attest to that. Good evening and no ill will sir, I hope you will enjoy many more videos from our province.

[@thenextshenanigantownandth4393]

@@jojokabo78 Your comment made no sense whatsoever, you're ether trolling or incredibly stupid.

[@SwoteOffical]

as a torontonian, I am terrified lol

[@caitlinhickey6]

Trust me, us Newfoundlanders are way more terrified of you as is the rest of Canada.

[@fiddlesticks1962]

@@caitlinhickey6 Nobody has to trust you. And as far as Newfoundlanders being terrified of Torontonians, speak for yourself not everybody on the Rock.

[@KimNeville-vr8hn]

​@@caitlinhickey6 No, only in your delusional mind 🤣

[@Massimono]

I know this gentleman, he's from Wexford Ireland

[@fiddlesticks1962]

Bullshit. You don't know this man or where he's from.

[@SloopeyC]

If J.R.R. Tolkien was a Newfie.

[@PandaPelley]

Nah b'y, any skipper that ain't from Town gots this kinda candour.

[@shamrockgerry]

Irish. Newfoundland

[@Themes4Voice]

Cornish*

[@thenextshenanigantownandth4393]

@@Themes4Voice They're Irish derived accents, there has been many studies done by linguists on this. I live in Ireland and it sounds identical to some of the accents you hear here.

[@Tyrone9256]

Sounds a bit Cornish

[@parmaxolotl]

0:14 DEEZ NUTS

[@ericklamotte617]

I’m Breton and understand him clearly, must be a Celtic thing, eh.

[@Hereforthecomments123]

Yes by' I thinks ur right

[@Hereforthecomments123]

2:52 Lmfao😂😂 proper thing.

[@logannnn]

0:15 deez nuts

[@haggispittjr]

??????-grandma-???-turn your coat inside out-????...

[@iamplay797]

I am canadian and i can't understand half of what he is saying 😀😆😅🤣

[@chriscorrigan14]

de delithium crystals - she gunna blow capt'n!

[@alienatedweapon5679]

I can mostly understand

[@angietyndall7337]

When I saw der I was like this is going to be in German....not so lol!

[@cagedlemp5184]

First 4 seconds cracked me up

[@eireronin]

Jesus mary mother of god This fella could be from Mayo

[@audreyking4721]

Funny