In 1759, Pirates Bought an Island in the U.S. Its Inhabitants Have Spoken a Variation of English That No One Understands Ever Since

Languages (and their dialects) may be one of the great wonders of civilization. For example, Latinos in South Florida have been blending English and Spanish for years, creating a new dialect. Not far from there, but a few centuries earlier, pirates arrived to establish something new: Elizabethan English, which remains unintelligible to this day.

The dialect of Ocracoke. According to the BBC, a dialect unique to the U.S. survives on the remote island of Ocracoke, North Carolina: Hoi Toider. It blends Elizabethan English, 18th-century Irish and Scottish accents, and the slang of the pirates who invaded the island several centuries ago. It’s the only variation of English in the U.S. not identified as American, a linguistic relic preserved thanks to the island’s geographic isolation and unique history.

Pirates. Ocracoke, a 9.6-square-mile island, was for centuries a haven for pirates, English sailors, and Woccon Native Americans who interacted and created a community with its own cultural and linguistic heritage. One of the most emblematic figures was William Howard, an ex-pirate and former crewman on Blackbeard’s ship, who, after receiving a royal pardon, bought the island in 1759 and helped establish a society that preserved its own dialect in almost total isolation.

The island’s isolation influenced the language and way of life. The enclave had no electricity until 1938, and ferry service did not begin until 1957. This allowed the community to remain largely unaffected by changes in the outside world, preserving its traditional way of life, culture, and dialect.

An endangered language. The Ocracoke dialect, Hoi Toider, is easily recognized by its distinctive phonetics. For example, the “i” sound is pronounced “oi,” which turns “high tide” into “hoi tide,” the origin of the dialect’s name. The vocabulary also includes words and phrases inherited from early British and Irish settlers, such as “mommuck” (bother), “quamish” (dizzy), and “pizer” (porch).

In addition, many terms come from Europe. Still, others originated on the island, such as “meehonkey,” a game of hide-and-seek inspired by the sound of flying geese. There’s also “dingbatter,” a term the locals use to refer to outsiders. The problem? The advent of television, the Internet, and tourism has accelerated the possible disappearance of the Hoi Toider. According to linguist Walt Wolfram, less than half of the island’s 676 current residents speak the traditional accent. Within a generation or two, it could disappear altogether.

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Living with their backs to the world. Beyond language, the Ocracoke community maintains a unique and self-sufficient way of life. No supermarkets or chain stores are on the island, so residents rely on small local shops, artisan markets, and fishing. Instead of movie theaters, there are outdoor theater groups, and many islanders still work as fishermen, carpenters, and owners of small breweries.

The scenery is so picturesque that one of the most iconic culinary traditions is the fig cake. It was created in 1964 when a local woman replaced the dates in a cake with preserved figs. Today, the cake is part of the local identity, and each August, the Fig Festival is celebrated with baking contests, dances, and traditional games such as meehonkey.

The crux: to change or not to change. Of course, Ocracoke continues to attract new residents and tourists, sparking debate about the future of its cultural identity. Some fear the influx of outsiders will dilute local customs. Others see the growth as a natural evolution, similar to the diversity early settlers brought to the island.

Whatever the case, the Ocracoke community seems to remain an increasingly rare example of solidarity and tradition. Strange as it may seem, people help each other, and though the dialect may be disappearing, the island’s spirit remains. “The dialect may change, but the intent behind those words will remain the same,” the islanders assure.

In the meantime, they’ll continue to speak English in a way that the rest of the country won’t understand.

Image | Dottie Di Liddo (Unsplash)

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