To our friends at the WordCamp RI and in relation to their funny post “Rhode Island English”
Hello Rhode Island,
It’s great to hear from you! In Belfast, we might say ‘Bout ye? (What about you = How are you?). Ah sure it’s grand that we’re having our events on the same day and you’re only just down the road from us!
Yes, we’ve learned to use the remote for our tellies because as the folk in Belfast might say it’s ‘Ded Haundy’ (dead handy) and saves you from having to ‘skite’ across the living room!
If our RI friends come to NI and someone asks them if they want a poke or a 99, don’t be worried they are just being friendly and offering you an ice cream. And your cabinet sounds a lot like our Ice drink!
Here in NI, lunch time is dinner time and dinner time is dinner time… unless you’re a bit posh (or a news anchor) and then it’s ‘tea time’. Of course, you shouldn’t take all we say quite literally. ‘There I was sitting in the middle of me dinner and he came through the door!’ And champ isn’t the winner of a boxing match, it’s actually mashed potatoes with a little milk and scallions (spring onions) and your ‘mate’(meat) isn’t a friend, it’s your lunch! And after dinner every Irish man wants his mammy to make him a mug of tay (tea)!
Maybe after dinner ‘yer mate’ (no not your lunch, your buddy) might call around your house and enquire “Fancy a dander up the town for wee a quick half?.. ‘mon” (would you like to accompany me into the city centre for a drink?) .. of course, a visit to the pub for a quick ‘halfun’ (measure of spirits) or half pint is NEVER quick! But you find yourself a little short of funds, so you might want to go to the ‘Cash machine’ or ‘Drink Link’ (ATM!) for some ‘reddies’! Then afterwards a visit to the Chip shop or Chippie for a nice fish supper… that’s battered fried fish and chips.. yes, we know you have that too, but chips here are proper thick chips and not French fries! Or a visit to the ‘Chinese’ for a Chinese takeaway (which still can come with chips!). And by the way if you want chips (US chips) then you’ll need to ask for a packet of crisps otherwise they’ll send you to the chippie!
Northern Ireland (known lovingly as ‘Norn Iron’ or the ‘Province’ to its residents) is a wonderful wee place full of craic. No, not the illegal drug kind; Craic here means fun or having a good time. People you might bump into might ask you ‘What’s the craic?’ meaning what’s new with you or how are you doing?
So, in conclusion, we in Belfast hope the craic will be mighty in Rhode Island at WordCamp RI and that the crowds don’t ‘chicken out’ on you on the 30th September / 1st October. Keep her lit!