Writing dialect is always a challenge for a writer. The Nova Scotia accent shares a lot with that of New England. R’s are often dropped, turning words like father into fatha. The a is nasal. But an author cannot write the entire dialogue that way.
If you try to write it phonetically it becomes hard to read and can make the speaker sound uneducated. The best way to create the impression in the reader’s ear for how a local speaker sounds is to intersperse terms that are used only in that region lightly throughout the dialogue. Another approach, as in the example here, is to say the character is using a heavy accent.
“Hey, yah,” Aaron said in answer, putting on the heaviest Nova Scotia accent Gil had ever heard. “Yah, sure, but yah’ll have to ask the captin’, eh? He’s in the boat.” from Concealed by the Tide
Here are some Nova Scotia terms. I’ll be adding new ones as I learn them and using them in my Tide Harbor novels.
A Beauty – well-done
A Flat or Two-Four – case of 24 beers in Maritimes
Brutal– bad, horrible, tough
Chesterfield – couch
“You sleep in the bed”—she pointed a finger at Summer—“and she sleeps on the chesterfield. And that’s exactly what I want to see when I wake up in the morning. No hanky-panky.” With that, the woman stomped into her bedroom and shut the door. from Concealed by the Tide
Double-double – 2 creams 2 sugars at Tim’s
Downhomer – A Maritimer
‘Eh?’ – A common response meaning “don’t you think?’ or “huh?” or “I’m listening.”
To Hose – to trick
Hoser – an unpleasant person.
Keener – brown-noser
Kerfuffle – a crazy or messy situation
Loonie – the Canadian dollar coin with the loon on it.
Owly – in a bad mood
Pop – soda
Poutine -French fries with gravy and cheese curds on top
“Well, now you have.” He picked up a fry and handed it to her. “You haven’t been to Nova Scotia if you haven’t eaten poutine.” from Lost Beneath the Tide
Runners – sneakers
Timmie’s – Tim Hortons
Toonie – The Canadian two-dollar coin
Torrque or Tuke- a ski hat
True – used like OK
Weatherin’– bad weather. “Sure is weatherin’ outside, eh?”
What you sayin’? – what are you up to?
To Yarn– to chat
Tide Harbor Suspense by Zara West 