Art Campbell was a highly respected teacher and community member. He retired from Bishops’ in 1983 and returned to Grand Cascapedia where he would write this humorous and heart-warming makeshift dictionary, a real Gaspesian treasure. The book appeals to those lucky enough to have been born in the Gaspe, and to those “from away”.
In his foreword, author Art Campbell writes: “This book is written as a tribute to all Gaspesians, their descendants and all others who are Gaspesian in heart and spirit.
From the establishment of the first post office in 1796, in Carleton, there has been a burrowing and lending of words and expressions from one end of the Gaspe to the other. In an isolated existence, the main form of entertainment was found in conversation and every effort was made to make it as appetizing as possible.
As a proud seventh generation Gaspesian, I have enjoyed the quest for the words that punctuated the speech of the people on this tongue of land that juts out into the Gulf of St. Lawrence. “
A few examples of this collection include:
Don’t care –This is said when one is offered something. It is a way of accepting a favour without being guilty or showing even a modicum of enthusiasm.
Q: Could I bring you a beer?
A: I don’t care
Many Gaspesians say “No” when they are offered something, for fear of being considered forward, but they readily accept what may be given them. When they say “don’t care”, they are exhibiting all the excitement they can muster.
Turble Pile- An extraordinary large number or amount. A turbile pile of hens was an impressive number of hens.
Mots and Phrases of the Gaspé was printed in 1995 with 150 pages and black and white pictures.