Culture of the Falkland Islands

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The culture of the Falkland Islands is basically analogous to British culture. The Falkland Islands have a large non-native born population, mainly white and from England (and to a much lesser extent, other parts of the British Isles), but also from Saint Helena.

The native born population is mainly of English and Scottish descent, with some more exotic strains such as Gibraltan.

1 Language
2 Literature
3 Architecture
4 Miscellaneous
5 External links
- 5.1 Sports

[edit] Language

The English language is used, mainly in its British English form. However, due to the isolation of the islands, the small population retains its own accent/dialect. In rural areas (i.e. anywhere outside Port Stanley), known as the "camp" (from Spanish campo), the Falkland accent tends to be stronger. The accent has resemblances to both Australia-NZ English, West Country and that of Norfolk in England.

Other notable Falkland island terms are the words "kelper" meaning a Falkland island, from the kelp surrounding the islands (sometimes considered pejorative); and "smoko" referring to a smoking break.

As the islands are mainly dependent on sheep rearing for wool, mutton is sometimes known as "365" since they eat it almost every day of the year.

[edit] Literature

For culture inspited by the Falklands War please see Cultural impact of the Falklands War

Due to the low population of the islands, most of the literature of the islands has been written by outsiders, and is non-fiction. However some poetry has been written by Falklanders, including, Ernest Spencer's Motherland

[edit] Architecture

The 1911 Britannica states:

The houses [of Stanley], mostly white with coloured roofs, are generally built of wood and iron, and have glazed porches, gay with fuchsias and pelargoniums. Government House, grey, stone-built and slated, calls to mind a manse in Shetland or Orkney. The government barrack is a rather imposing structure in the middle of the town, as is the cathedral church to the east, built of stone and buttressed with brick.

Since this date, many more buildings have been erected especially military installations.

The Bodie Suspension Bridge is sometimes stated to be the most southerly in the world.