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It’s International “Talk Like a Pirate” Day.
How to do it:
1. Rhotic, like, to the max.
2. The basic phonetic unit of pirate speech is the single long-drawn-out letter: R, I, A, etc.
3. Interpolate random piratical interjections: avast, belay, matey, me hearties, blow me down, bugger me standing, etc.
4. In a pinch, try the Pirate filter. If you’re fluent in Gangsta, you can also use the Pirate - Gangsta glossary.
5. Only to talk like a pirate. Not to make walk the plank. Not to sack the Accounting Department. For that is the law.
Addendum:
For additional joy, read Avast There!, a piece in—of all things—the Salt Lake Tribune. It begins:
Good evening, I’m Jim Lehrer. Tonight we are joined by several of the Democratic candidates for president. But, before we begin, some ground rules.Today, Sept. 19, is International Talk Like a Pirate Day, an annual celebration founded by a couple of community theater types from Oregon. In the spirit of this wonderful example of pointless American innovation, and in hopes of getting anyone to actually pay attention to them, the candidates have agreed to answer questions tonight in the manner of a pirate captain, or as near as they can get from their experience of watching three generations of Disney movies.
The first question is for Howard Dean, the former governor of Vermont. Governor, what do you propose to do about the high price of prescription drugs?
“Arrrh, Jim boy! Thar be tons of cheap pill up thar in Canada, all a man can carry, ripe for the takin’. All we need do is hoist anchor for Toronto! The Mounties won’t try an’ stop us, and those scurvy dogs from the FDA will taste the point of our grandma’s walker if they get in our way!”
Now we turn to Sen. Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut. …
Arrrrrrrrrrh! And me thanks to Fearsome Beth Meacham, her wot they calls th’ Scourge o’ the Southwest, fer sendin’ it my way.
5. Only to talk like a pirate. Not to make walk the plank. Not to sack the Accounting Department. For that is the law.
Oh, *now* she tells us! Oops!
Those who have taken to this after seeing Pirates of the Caribbean may be amused by Nice Hair, of which I am becoming quite fond, in a sweet and simple way.
http://chickenlil.blogspot.com
I have posted a photo on my blog of my sister-in-law, Michele, a 7th grade middle school teacher in
Albuquerque, NM, who is reprising her role as
The Pirate! this year, for the 2nd annual
TAlk LIke a Pirate Day! She looks great - and she
makes 'em walk the plank! ARRRRRRRRR!!!!
I find it especially ironic that your suggested pirate phonetic units are all claimed by that most vigorous of anti-pirate organizations,
The Arrr! Aye! Aaaa! Aaaa!
Shiver yer timbers, Ashcroft, and preparrre to meet Davy Jones! Iii arrrre aaa liiibrrrrarrrian, aye!
Aye, Jordin, I were thinkin' just that thing.
Meanwhile, the Salt Lake Tribune reports on the Presidential race.
I wonder how many Americans will be saying "bugger me standing" without knowing what it means. Actually, those inclined to talk like pirates probably will.
I just been aloft, matey, appendin' that same bit o' canvas to the mainsail. Arrrrrrrrrh!
Scott, lad, how bad can yon phrase be, seein' as I learnt it from me own godfather?
I'm waiting for Talk Like Dr. Stephen Maturin Day.
What a fine specimen of an anglerfish; you will pardon me if I absent myself from your fine company to swab its decks. Gills.
Dare I ask under what circumstances your godfather instructed you to "bugger him standing"?
Ah, this demonstrates--ahem, be demonstratin' the shortcomin's and pitfalls of speakin' like a pirate. Teresa's gardfarther was indubitably makin' a passin' referrrrence to that noted Bulgarian, Miles Standish.
Any other interpretation is rather unseemly for what one must consider in these benighted times to be polite company.
I can't wait for Talk like a Character from David Lynch's Dune.
I must admit, I like this blog.
There's an updated Corsair (pirate's keyboard) at this comment to my LiveJournal; it's got a scuttle button.
Following the rules is so very un pirate-like.
Aye, sure and if somebody tol' me ta bugger 'im standin', I might take 'im right up on it...but I'd invite 'im ta me quarrters first. Arrrr.
Nay, it's nobbut a thing he do sometimes say when he's stark amazed.
One of the expessions of surprise Nigel Rowe used when he lived over here was "Well bugger me rigid!", something that could all too easily be taken as an invitation in some quarters.
If ye be interrrrest'd in talkin' like a sailor, ye could do worse'n getting What Do You Do With a Drunken Sailor?: Unexpurgated Sea Chanties, me hearties. Learn how sailors use words yer mother'd keelhaul ye for usin'.
Nay, matey, me dam brought the blush to many a sailor's cheek. The passel o' Brownies (now I'm talkin' o' the junior Girl Scout kind) in the car when she turned awrong, and gave a cry of "Shitballs!" were not sailors, but fer a' that were taken much aback.
"Yo ho ho and a point of order!"
"Who's that?!"
"That, lad...that be Graybeard, the Parlimentary Pirate. Arrr! With his parrot, Redactor."
"There is not a moment to be lost!"
Whoops. Wrong novel...
"Standing" as in "bugger me standing" means "without disrobing."
Arrrr.
I thought it referred to one's ranking in the Freebooters' and Honest Seamen's Intership Round-Robin Shuffleboard League. To wit:
"One-eye's taken a hat trick!"
"Arrh! Bugger me standin'!"
Cf. "bugger me aggregate," "bugger me handicap."
Arrrr, there be no link to a corsair's keyboard elise m'lass! Tis a cruel trick yer playing.
Happen I already owns a copy o' th' book, which it's What Do You Do with a Drunken Sailor?; aye, and it all inscribed behind and before wi' piratical sentiments in a fine broad hand.
Yon strappin' wench Lydia paid down her money for one a', an' was fair gobsmacked to find Morgan sailed under a flag o' convenience.
Arrrrrrrr!
Dvark!
listen here, at bottom of page
And he's playing a short set tonight at the CBGB!
"2. The basic phonetic unit of pirate speech is the single long-drawn-out letter: R, I, A, etc."
Ironic, given that those bilge rats over at the RIAA be so anti-piracy.
Boy, I stay away for most of a day....
So what did the dyslexic Russian pirate say?
Ya, Ya, Ya....
Pardon me whilst I go and convince the pirate raccoon that taking over the garage is Not Done in Polite Daly City.
(And "Blow me down" is probably not good East Coast Pirate this week...).
Cheers,
Tom
Stefan, arrrrr! I'm sorry! I cannot seem to type these things in right today. The link to the picture of the keyboard is at http://www.livejournal.com/users/elisem/221415.html?thread=1123303 if I finally typed it right.
The whole thread can be found at http://www.livejournal.com/users/elisem/221415.html if, again, I did it right this time. (I know I got instructions on how to make a link, but I have looked for them for an hour now, and am giving up in frustration. Eh, I suppose I forfeit my geek hat now. Meh.)
(And you're all welcome to stop by my LJ and paint graffiti on the Alphabet's Revenge, or get some eyeshadow, or whatever. "Arrr," she explained.)
Thank ye lass, and a fine keyboard it be.
What one of my English friends thought about it....
John: When we celebrate Talk Like Dr. Maturin Day, will we be doing it in Catalan or Arrrrrrrrish?
I'm not sure about Talk Like Dr. Maturin Day. It will only prompt Patrick to ask what-all I have in my pockets.
Nothing so practical.
When one has spent the past month with one's leg broken, and laden with hard-set plaster, Dr, Maturin's assurances as to the efficacy of this novel treatment begin to wear somewhat thin. The expectation that one should then "talk like a pirate" becomes the lubberly imposition of a scurvy knave, reminiscent of the most venal practices of the Victualling Office.
Instead of talking like a pirate, may I recommend a few alternative phrases which may be of use.
There is not a moment to be lost!
Sir, you have debauched my sloth!
Pray, sir, recall that is my rosin which you have put in your waistcoat pocket.
Left hand down a bit!
I trust that this will be of assistance to you in your further endeavours and enterprises.
Sir, you must always have one hand for the keyboard, and the other for yourself.
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