pirate lingo

In case you didn't know (or conveniently forgot), today, September 19, is International Talk Like a Pirate Day. Conceived by a couple of fun-loving guys on a racquetball court and unleashed on the world by syndicated columnist Dave Barry, September 19 is now and ever will be the day to fill your conversation voids and pregnant pauses with pirate lingo.
The Telegraph has supplied the top ten pirate links to its readers today.

According to the official International Talk Like a Pirate Day web site, basic pirate language includes the following catchy words:

Ahoy! - "Hello!"

Avast! - Stop and give attention. It can be used in a sense of surprise, "Whoa! Get a load of that!" which today makes it more of a "Check it out" or "No way!" or "Get off!"

Aye! - "Why yes, I agree most heartily with everything you just said or did."

Aye aye! - "I'll get right on that sir, as soon as my break is over."

Arrr! - This one is often confused with arrrgh, which is of course the sound you make when you sit on a belaying pin. "Arrr!" can mean, variously, "yes," "I agree," "I'm happy," "I'm enjoying this beer," "My team is going to win it all," "I saw that television show, it sucked!" and "That was a clever remark you or I just made." And those are just a few of the myriad possibilities of Arrr!

For more pirate lingo, a story about the origin of ITLAP day, and a host of pirate-inspired pick-up lines, visit the Talk Like a Pirate web site.

Pirate costumes are popular rental items today. No doubt many bosses are using the day as an opportunity to weed out weak staff members by asking them to walk the plank. However you decide to celebrate the day, be sure to at least carry on the tradition by offering an "Aye aye" response when asked to do something or greeting fellow workers, friends, or family members with an "Ahoy." Eye-patch is optional.



Ahoy, for those of you that didn't know, yesterday was International Talk like a Pirate Day. Feeling a little confused? Don't worry, so were we. Apparently, here at King's, we were oblivious to the fact that every year on September 19 you are suppose to speak like a pirate and apparently quote Pirates of the Caribbean lines at every opportune moment.


Sound a little crazy? Perhaps, but it all started on June 6, 1995 when two buddies, John Baur and Mark Summers, were playing a fun and jovial game of racquetball. Story has it that the two were yelling words of encouragement back and forth when one of them supposedly muttered "Arr!" while stretching to make a difficult return of the ball. What ensued was a series of pirate rants for the remainder of the game.


After the match was over the two agreed that the use of pirate lingo actually made for a more enjoyable and exciting game. Right then and there a decision was made that a new national holiday was warranted, and thus, Talk Like a Pirate Day was born. To make a long story short, they eventually sent an e-mail to a popular syndicated columnist and the rest is history.


As for the growing popularity of such a holiday here on the King's campus, that honor goes to science professor Dr. Derrick Boucher. Boucher claims he originally heard of the holiday several years back while listening to a program on National Public Radio. One day while eating lunch with fellow colleague Dr. Joel Shuman, the two chatted about how such a holiday would be a fun thing to encourage. So for the past few years, Dr. Boucher has recognized the holiday and encourages colleagues and students alike to participate by sending out a campus e-mail.

It's nothing major (Dr. Boucher does not walk into his classrooms talking like Captain Jack Sparrow), but he does drop the occasional pirate line on the students.


"Yesterday I walked into class and greeted the students by saying 'Avast! The Captain's aboard!' Half the class knew why I was talking like a pirate and the other half looked at me like I was crazy," said Boucher. "We had a quiz, and when the students finished taking it, a few of them were talking among themselves when I said 'Scupper that talk.' They had no idea what I was saying but they stopped talking."


Dr. Boucher says the holiday has become somewhat of an inside joke and he enjoys watching the students' reaction. In fact, a few years back, the Campus Activities office got word of the holiday and held a showing of Pirates of the Caribbean in the Burke Auditorium. Turnout was good, and several students dressed up in pirate costumes.


"I think affecting an attitude or character and accent has always been fun to me," Boucher remarked. "My hope is that the students will at least go back and reference my e-mail."


For those wanting to get an early start for next year's Talk Like a Pirate Day, check out the holiday's official website