This Tiny Village In California Has Its Own Language And It's Extraordinary
By Beth|Published March 24, 2017
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Beth
Author
A lifelong Virginia resident, Beth loves exploring different parts of the world and currently resides in Charlottesville. She holds a degree in English Literature and one of her short stories has been featured in the Shenandoah Review. Other interests include hiking, songwriting, and spending time in the mountains.
California may be one of the most highly-visited states in the U.S., but there’s a tiny village in California that was once so isolated that it developed a new language altogether. Today, many of the residents of Boonville still proudly speak their own language, known as Boontling. The origin of this language is unknown, yet it began sometime in the 19th century. Here’s more on the secret dialect of Boonville, California:
The tiny town of Boonville is located in the scenic Anderson Valley, a logging region of California.
During the 19th century, a language originated in this part of the state and, due to the fact that the region was so isolated, this new dialect thrived.
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The language of Boontling is a composite of English, Scottish Gaelic, Spanish, Irish, and Pomoan.
There are nearly 1,600 words in the Boontling language. Some of the words even incorporate the names of original Boonville residents, making the language a deeply personal one.
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Though extensive, the Boontling language never made its way to any other part of the country.
The reason why the language may have remained so isolated was the initial reluctance to share it, especially considering the personal ties of the language to the land and history of Boonville.
A local business, Anderson Valley Beer Joint, frequently posts "Boontling words of the day" and has named some of their brews in Boontling. "Eetah!" is the word for "wow!" (as seen on the beer can in the above photo.)
If you visit this region in California, you may even pick up on a few new words.
