March 6 2008
Either I read too much, or the Anderson Valley Chamber of Commerce has an active pr intern. How else to explain reading two mentions of the native dialect, Boontling, from Boonville in Anderson Valley, in two major magazines within the span of two hours?
First, I have to say, prior to Tuesday evening, I had never heard of Boonville, CA, in the Anderson Valley in Mendocino County and I definitely had not heard of their local dialect, Boontling.
However, in the April 2008 issue of Wine & Spirits magazine, in an article about micro Pinot Noir vintners, there was a reference to a “Fog-eater,” a term used to refer derisively to a coast dweller, on the margins of an already rural society.
Then, while reading the March 2008 issue of National Geographic Adventure magazine, there it is again. In an article about traversing Hwy 1 north of San Francisco, the magazine suggests cutting over from Hwy 1 to Hwy 128 and stopping in Boonville, where the folks have their own language, before heading over to Hwy 175 and cutting down Hwy 29 through Napa Valley.
With Pinot and Alsatian varieties hotter than a stolen pistol, it makes some sense to become familiar with the Boontling dialect, you know, in case you find yourself in those parts and without your Berlitz Guide to Words and Phrases, Boontling edition.
First, it is important to note that Anderson Valley (download nice four-color, printable map here), aside from the Central Coast and its overlapping AVA’s, is one of the hottest up and coming regions in California.
A cool climate area, Pinot’s and Alsatian whites are coming out of that area that are earning critical acclaim and playing right into the sweet spot of balanced, acid-friendly and food-friendly wine trends that are gripping restaurants on either coast. Most notable, perhaps, aside from the micro-vintners that are earning their way into securing grapes from growers, is Londer and Navarro, both of whom make a consistently popular Pinot Noir, amongst other varieties.
But, aside from the wine, more interesting to me is the fact that the folks in Boonville, the largest town in Mendocino County (whopping population of about 1300) have their own dialect.
From Wikipedia:
Although based on English, Boontling’s unusual words are unique to Boonville. Scottish Gaelic and Irish, and some Pomo Indian and Spanish also influenced the vocabulary of the language.[1] Boontling was invented in the late 1800s and had quite a following at the turn of the century. It is now mostly spoken only by aging counter-culturists and native Anderson Valley residents. Because the town of Boonville only has a little over 700 residents, Boontling is an extremely esoteric dialect, and is quickly becoming archaic. It has over a thousand unique words and phrases.
From the Anderson Valley Brewing Company web site:
Boontling flourished in the valley for as much as forty years, and can still be heard, when some of the codgy kimmies (old men) get together. There are very few Boont harpers left, and its use has dwindled greatly, but evidence of the language can still be found, if you know where to look. Local public pay-phones are designated as Bucky Walters (nickel telephones). The local tow-truck has “ Boont Region De-arkin’ Moshe” (Anderson Valley Un-wrecking Machine) stenciled on the side. And the Anderson Valley Brewing Company has christened their ales with the Boontling names of certain valley regions, as a tribute to the spirit of Anderson Valley and its people.
In the event that you ever find yourself up in Boonville, visiting some wineries, here are a couple of words that may help ease your way into the local culture (from Wikipedia):
abe - to butt or crowd in so as to push a person out of line and take his or her place.
branching - stepping out for a good time.
itch neem’r - with desire to drink: one would say, “I itch neem’r”
tidrick - A party; a social gathering
Bahl - Good; of excellent quality
Bahler - Anyone or anything of unquestionably good quality
Bahlest - excellent, best, or great
Beemsh - A show; an entertainment; a spectacle, program, or exhibition
Bee’n - The buttocks
Blooch - To chatter aimlessly
Bluejay - A resident of Philo, in lower Philo
When you are visiting Navarro in Philo, just a piece up the road from Boonville, try this one on for size and do not blame me if people look at you funny.
“I was itch neem’r and we were branching out to Navarro with the bahler wine it was a beemsh on Saturday and I had to abe a Blooch Bluejay with my bee’n at the tidrick.”
On the other hand, perhaps, just buy some of the Anderson Valley vino and make up your own words.
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