Newfie

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"Newfie" is a colloquial, and sometimes pejorative, term used in Canada for someone who is from Newfoundland. The earliest known recording of the term was in 1938 on a local radio programme, The Barrelman, probably as a slightly insulting term for a Newfoundlander. It appears in a 1942 dictionary of slang; at the time, "Newfie" was used as often to refer to Newfoundland itself as to 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 Newfie Bullet which ran from Port-aux-Basques to St John's) along the Narrow Gauge Railway, known as the Newfoundland Railway; "Newfie screech" (a slang term for a brand of Newfoundland rum).

Newfoundlanders do not typically use the term "Newfie" to refer to the large furry affectionate Newfoundland dog. However, in America this usage is becoming more common.

Usage as a derogatory term

The terms "Newf" or "Newfie" are considered derogatory by many Newfoundlanders. Newfoundlanders are of different views as to whether the term "Newf" is as derogatory as the term "Newfie." As with many ethnic groups saddled with pejorative terms, many Newfoundlanders use the terms to refer to themselves or to each other, and in this context they are less offensive than when used by non-Newfoundlanders.

The word "Newfie" is associated with "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 depict Newfoundlanders as stupid, lazy or both. Many such jokes are identical to ethnic jokes that are used to put down other groups.

In March 2006, an Edmonton police officer was disciplined for using the word Newphie [sic] to describe the apprehension of an individual. This explicitly derogatory usage is particularly prevalent in locations (such as northern Alberta) where large numbers of Newfoundlanders have migrated for economic opportunities.

In the 1970s, the Government of Alberta added the term "Newfie" to a list of words not allowed to be used on personalised licence plates, reasoning that it was an ethnic slur and hateful. In 2006, a man from Newfoundland argued that also a source of pride, and fought to have the word removed from the list, and he eventually won.

Newfie in Canadian Culture

Canadian popular culture often uses newfies as a caricature or comic vehicle. This is similar to the American concept of rednecks.

References

External links

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Last updated on Saturday February 02, 2008 at 13:37:52 PST (GMT -0800)
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