Vote for the best verboticism.
DEFINITION: v. To unconsciously adopt the vocal mannerisms and linguistic stylings of the people with whom you are speaking. n. A speaker who adopts the vocal mannerisms of their audience.
Verboticisms
Click on each verboticism to read the sentences created by the Verbotomy writers, and to see your voting options...
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Spongespeak
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
Peerbonics
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
Hackcent
Created by: Osomatic
Pronunciation: hack + sent
Sentence: John picked up a brogue in Dublin, and we made fun of him mercilessly for his hackcent.
Etymology: hack + accent
Copychat
Created by: libertybelle
Pronunciation: cop-ee-chat
Sentence: When I first met Floyd, I thought he was mocking my Jersey accent but I soon realized he was just a copychat when he picked up a Brogue when we visited Dublin.
Etymology: copy + chat and a play on the word copycat
Reverblicate
Created by: buck180
Pronunciation: re 'verb' li kate
Sentence: When on vacation John unwittingly reverblicates the speech of the local people much to their dismay.
Etymology: From reverberate: to echo a sound. And from duplicate: to copy exactly.
Mimaccent
Created by: erasmus
Pronunciation: mi mac sent
Sentence: Doris was terrible for putting on a mimaccent every time she spoke to someone. Even South Africans thought she was one of them until she said she came from Chawley.
Etymology: from mimic and accent
Memic
Created by: Buzzardbilly
Pronunciation: ˈmē-mik
Sentence: (n) He was a memic; he easily slid from one manner of speech to another and bonding with each type as individuals by sharing their langauge style without really thinking about it. (BTW, the actual term used for this in communication studies is "vocal matching") (v) His memicked as if he had to talk the same way anyone he spoke with did, but it was endearing as it wasn't a conscious decision on his part.
Etymology: mimic - to attempt to sound like another; emic - cultural study by participating in the culture; and, meme - cultural information (ideas, beliefs, and practices [which I believe would include one's way of speaking]) that spread from person to person much in the way genes spread biological information from person to person.
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COMMENTS:
Memic Mia, good word. - Nosila, 2009-10-06: 18:09:00
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Idiolectate
Created by: Ahmad
Pronunciation: edeo-lektaet
Sentence: I have never seen such a perfect idiolectate like saim.
Etymology: idiolect = an individual way or style of talking. Imitate = to copy some one or something.so to copy some one's speech the way he/she speaks.
Verbotomime
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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Comments:
Today's definition was suggested by Osomatic.
Thank you Osomatic! ~ James
Today's definition was suggested by Osomatic. Thank you Osomatic. ~ James