Arrr, Ye Landlubbers! Ocracoke's Pirate-Tinged 'Hoi Toider' Dialect Fights for Survival
Summary
Ocracoke Island's 'Hoi Toider' dialect, a unique blend of Elizabethan English, Irish and Scottish accents, and pirate slang, is fighting for survival as the island's distinct culture and traditions like the Fig Festival are being preserved.
Key Points
- The isolated island of Ocracoke in North Carolina has a unique dialect called 'Hoi Toider' that blends Elizabethan English, Irish and Scottish accents, and pirate slang
- The dialect originated from the mix of Native Americans, English sailors, and pirates who settled on the island in the 17th and 18th centuries
- While the Hoi Toider dialect is slowly fading away with each generation, the island's distinct culture and traditions like the Fig Festival are being preserved