Verboticisms

Created by: Nuwanda

Pronunciation: die-a-leck-tick

Sentence: For most of his life, Joe was able to avoid mishap caused by his dialectick. Growing up in Central Iowa, no one seemed to notice or care much when he affected the speech patterns of a Keokuk-ian or Des Moines-ite. But his dialectick did not serve him well when he got a job at the Starbucks across the street from U.N. headquarters. He was fired after two hours because of complaints that he was taunting the customers.

Etymology: Dialect (dialect n. A regional or social variety of a language distinguished by pronunciation, grammar, or vocabulary, especially a variety of speech.) + tic (A habitual spasmodic muscular movement or contraction, usually of the face or extremities)

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Created by: toadstool57

Pronunciation: pEEr-bon-ics

Sentence: David aquired a severe case of peerbonics, taking on the speaking mannerisms he picked up in his group of friends.

Etymology: peer, as in friends/ebonics, black english

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Created by: jedijawa

Pronunciation: ver-boto-mime

Sentence: Jedijawa tends to unconsciously verbotomime the dialect and accent of people who he talks to for more than 5 minutes unless he tries very hard not to do so.

Etymology: verbotomy (pandering to the board on this one) + mime (to imitate)

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COMMENTS:

Verbotomimicry is the sincerest form of flattery. Thank you! - Verbotomy, 2007-03-20: 10:27:00

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Created by: Nosila

Pronunciation: ver nakt itood

Sentence: My Mother has a vernactitude in communicating with others from different ethnic backgrounds. First of all she speaks slower and louder than normal (apparently in her mind this will help them understand her English words better). She uses far more hand language & gestures and throws in foreign words to better describe what she is trying to say. It matters not that the foreign words are not in the language of that person. She recently spoke to a Chinese waiter and after she slowly and loudly told him her order, ended it with "Capeesh,Garçon?"

Etymology: Vernacular (the everyday speech of the people (as distinguished from literary language);a characteristic language of a particular group) & Aptitude (inherent ability)

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COMMENTS:

Good for mum! - splendiction, 2009-10-06: 22:43:00

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Created by: artr

Pronunciation: skamēlyən

Sentence: A big part of the politician’s popularity is because he is a scameleon. Whatever group he is talking to is the group he is part of. If speaking to blue-collar workers, the sleeves are rolled up and the language a bit rough. A chat with business leaders prompts the three-piece suit and corresponding jargon. When pressed, followers can’t even specify what party he belongs to. He could be a liberal Republican or a moderate Democrat.

Etymology: scam (a dishonest scheme; a fraud) + chameleon (a small slow-moving Old World lizard with a prehensile tail, long extensible tongue, protruding eyes that rotate independently, and a highly developed ability to change color)

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Created by: artr

Pronunciation: gramēlyən

Sentence: Joe is what is referred to as a military brat. As he grew up his family changed homes as often as some people change their underwear. Everywhere they lived he adopted the regional vernacular complete with inflections and slang. He was a regular grammaeleon, changing to match his language the local background. From Texas to California to Jersey and many points between, he collected many colloquialisms. As an adult he seems confused at times spouting strangely mixed phrases like **Fugget abowt it Ya*all dudes**.

Etymology: grammar (the whole system and structure of a language or of languages in general, usually taken as consisting of syntax and morphology including inflections and sometimes also phonology and semantics) + chamaeleon (a small slow-moving Old World lizard with a highly developed ability to change color)

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COMMENTS:

I newt it would be a good word! - Nosila, 2009-10-07: 01:28:00

like it... - mweinmann, 2009-10-07: 07:52:00

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Created by: Alchemist

Pronunciation: ak-SENT-eh-fyoog

Sentence: Whenever Josh is around Brits, he turns into a helpless accentefugue, peppering his sentences with "luv" "guv" and "quid". Strange, as he has lived his whole life in Brooklyn.

Etymology: accent (pronunciation common to a certain group of people) + fugue (A pathological amnesiac condition during which one is apparently conscious of one's actions but has no recollection of them), with a nod towards accent aigue

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Created by: ozzymars

Pronunciation: blend-gwuis-tics

Sentence: While in the hood, Elliot often spoke in blendguistics.

Etymology: blend+linguistics

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Created by: galwaywegian

Pronunciation: myrrh oh ray tor

Sentence: The mirrorator's dramatic rise to world renown evaporated as soon as his plane touched down in Nantucket

Etymology: orator mirror

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Created by: mplsbohemian

Pronunciation: SPUHNJ-speek

Sentence: After five minutes of conversation, the Cincinnatian already spongespoke his Atlanta friend's drawl.

Etymology: sponge (as in absorbancy) + speak

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