Falkland Islands English

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Falkland Islands English is the local form of English spoken on the Falkland Islands, a windy cluster of about 780 islands off the coast of Argentina. It mainly comes from Southern England and is closest to Southern British English, but it also shares some features with Australian, New Zealand, and other Southern Hemisphere Englishes.

Origins and people
The Falklands had no native population when the British arrived. Regular settlement began in 1833, and the capital, Stanley, was founded in 1845. Today, most islanders are of British descent, with many living in Stanley. In recent history there have been tensions with Argentina, including a war in 1982. A large majority of islanders identify as British, and in a referendum more than 99% chose to remain under British sovereignty. The population includes people arriving from the United Kingdom, Chile, and other places, with a significant portion born locally.

How the language fits with other English
Falkland Islands English (FIE) grew from the English spoken by settlers, mainly from the West Country and other parts of Southern England. Over time, it formed a distinct, but still English-based, variety through contact among speakers from different dialect backgrounds. The language also picked up some Spanish loanwords from gauchos and other South Americans who worked there, especially in rural life and horse farming. Because of the island’s small population and mixing of backgrounds, FIE shows a lot of variation and is still developing as a local variety.

What it sounds like and how people speak
- It is non-rhotic, like many Southern British and Southern Hemisphere varieties, meaning the r at the end of words is not pronounced.
- The up-sounding “high rising terminal” (a rising intonation at the end of statements) is common, especially among younger speakers and women.
- Vowel patterns are mostly close to Southern British English, but with some shifts that you might hear in Australasian English. For example, the price and mouth sounds can be distinctive, and some vowels may be more centralized or rounded than in other British varieties.
- Some everyday pronunciations vary a lot from person to person, reflecting the mix of regional backgrounds on the islands.

Grammar and everyday speech
- You may hear youse used for “you” when talking to more than one person, a feature shared with Australian and New Zealand English.
- People sometimes use she/her for non-living things, and me or myself in places where standard English would use I or myself.
- The language shows some older-style or non-standard forms, such as regularising some irregular verbs, using got to instead of have got to, or using ain’t for negation in informal speech.
- You’ll see some non-standard pluralization and some relaxed rules in past and tense forms, as speakers mix different English traditions.
- Definite articles are sometimes dropped in abbreviations (for example, “UK” instead of “the UK”).
- Sometimes “them” is used where “those” would be expected, and a before a vowel may be used in front of some words.

Spanish and other borrowings
Spanish influences are noticeable but mainly in vocabulary. Words related to farming, horses, or rural life appear in Falkland English with unique local pronunciations. Some common loanwords include terms tied to cattle, horse gear, and everyday exclamations like “che.” They have become integrated into everyday speech and place names on the islands often reflect a mix of English and Spanish forms.

Notable words and terms
- kelper: a Falkland Islander.
- smoko: a break for a cigarette or rest.
- R&R: originally rest and recreation, but on the islands it can mean a short break in daily life.
- Johnny rook: a local name for the Striated Caracara.
- Many place names, like campo (Spanish for field), have been adapted into Falkland English.

In short, Falkland Islands English is a mobile, Southern-English-based dialect that has grown through settlement, war, and ongoing contact with Spanish-speaking communities and other English varieties. It remains distinctly Falkland, with its own mix of pronunciation, grammar quirks, and a rich local vocabulary.