High Tide or Hoi Toid? The remote NC Island of Ocracoke has its own dialect – called Ocracoke Brogue.
There are no flights to the NC Island of Ocracoke – there aren’t even any bridges. The only way to venture to the island is by boat, across its stunning beaches. While Ocracoke’s beaches are regarded amongst some of the best in America, even more stunning is the island’s incredibly unique brogue.
What does the dialect sound like?
To the island’s 973 permanent residents, the “High Tider” dialect, as they call it, is a facet of everyday life and culture. The accent is characterized by its unique annunciation of vowels, with one of its biggest distinctions being the pronunciation of “i”, which instead sounds like “oi”. A common phrase used to demonstrate the brogue of the NC Island of Ocracoke is “high tide on the south side”, which instead sounds like “hoi toide on the saind soid”. Samples like this one also demonstrate how the Oracoke brogue sounds like a mixture of Australian, Irish, and Elizabethean accents. This distinct nature of the dialect is actually the result of centuries of cultural and linguistic intermingling.
How did the NC Island of Ocracoke’s dialect come to be?
Much of this fusion is due to the island’s rich history – in the 1700s, it was once home to pirates, Native Americans, and English sailors. The intersection of these cultures and dialects helped create the basis for what would become the High Tider accent. The geographic and economic isolation from the rest of the Outer Banks region also contributed to the development of the brogue. As the community grew over the years, the brogue also adopted some of its unique vocabulary.
Has the Ocracoke Brogue dialect changed in recent years?
While the NC Island of Ocracoke was once extremely isolated, a ferry service began in 1957 and has since impacted the High Tider dialect. With the introduction of mainlanders moving to the island and tourists visiting, the accent has slowly waned. Even the introduction of the Internet and television has had a noticeable impact, exposing the Ocracoke Island natives to a wide range of different intonations. As the isolation of the island became less pronounced, so has the brogue. It is now much less common, and even considered a disappearing dialect. Island natives explain that in only one or two generations, the High Tider accent will be gone.
While the natives’ dialect may be waning, their culture and loving way of life still persevere. For instance, the islanders continue to participate in the annual Fig Festival. It then carries on traditional games such as “meehonkey”, the island’s version of hide-and-seek. Despite the changes over the years, it is certain that Ocracoke Island’s community remains as tight-knit as ever.
Visiting the island and the Outer Banks region
Ocracoke Island’s official site provides all the necessary resources and information needed. Especially, if you hope to hear the distinct High Tider dialect first hand before it disappears. When visiting the island, also consider checking out additional sights in the Outer Banks area. or, other beautiful beaches in North Carolina.
