Since most tourist destinations in the region are rural, crime is less of a threat than getting lost. The weather can turn ugly quickly, so be prepared. Moose called "elk" in Europe are the largest member of the deer family, and are a common hazard on the roads.
acadian french
Acadian French le français acadien is a dialect of French spoken by the Acadians in the Canadian Maritimes provinces. Like other Canadian French dialects, it diverged from the French of France about 400 years ago at the time of the French colonization of the Americas, and sounds different to visiting Francophones. Acadians and francophones from Quebec can understand each other with little difficulty. A good glossary is available online.
newfoundland english, french, and irish
In Newfoundland, another dialect of English is found in combination with any number of local variations. It is often noted that a Newfoundlander can give away his or her home town simply by speaking. In some areas, an Irish lilt can be heard, while in other areas it may not be present.
A few Newfoundland English expressions you may encounter:
Where you to?: Where are you? also used to ask 'How are you?'
Stay where you're to.: Don't leave.
Stay where you're to 'til I comes where you're at.: Wait there for me.
Flat on the back with that!: An expression of approval, male speaker
Flat on the back for that!: An expression of approval, female speaker
b'y pronounced bye: boy, guy, man, friend sometimes used in a general way to include males and females
Unlike Newfoundland English, Newfoundland French and Irish are nearly extinct. Newfoundland French is distinct from other Canadian French dialects including Quebec French and Acadian French, and is generally found in the Port au Port Peninsula. The language was deliberately discouraged by the government in the 20th century. Newfoundland Irish is a dialect of the Irish language specific to the island of Newfoundland and was widely spoken until the mid-20th century. It is very similar to the accent heard in the southeast of Ireland, due to mass immigration from the counties Tipperary, Waterford, Wexford and Cork. Newfoundland is the only place outside Europe with its own distinctive name in the Irish language, Talamh an Ãisc, literally "Land of Fish".
talk
While the people of the Atlantic Provinces predominantly speak English and French, it is worth noting that there are regional dialects of these languages that can throw off the average Central Canadian tourist, not to mention those from abroad.
Some rural communities in the Maritime Provinces have unique vernacular expressions unfamiliar to tourists. For example, "Some fine" means "Very good". Such expressions will not hamper a tourist's understanding of locals, but it may be a noticeable feature in certain areas. Not limited to Atlantic Canada, some of these expressions can be found in neighbouring US states.