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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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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
Grammaeleon
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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Osmolinguate
Created by: PythianHabenero
Pronunciation: osmo-LING-g(y)oo-ate
Sentence: My tendency to osmolinguate is one reason why I prefer to keep friends whose elocution I find pleasant.
Etymology: "Osmosis" + the lingu- word root, with help from "amalgamate".
Mimiclique
Created by: Mustang
Pronunciation: MIM-ih-clik
Sentence: Without realizing he was doing it, whenever he was around his group of friends Lamar would do his mimiclique routine, subconsciously trying to impress each of them by copying their style of speech.
Etymology: Blend of the words 'mimic' and 'clique'
Scameleon
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)
Pronunplacate
Created by: Mrgoodtimes
Pronunciation: Pruh-nuhn-pley-keyt
Sentence: Like dude bro, your pronunplacation of that algorithm was like totally cool. I totally tweeted it.
Etymology: Pronunciation - placate
Talkonalog
Created by: mana1066
Pronunciation: talk-on-a-log
Sentence: When hanging around Tyrone, Winston used his black talkonalog.
Etymology: talk + take on + dialog
Copychat
Created by: artr
Pronunciation: kop-ee-chat
Sentence: I don't want to say that Tom is feeble-minded but whenever he talks to anybody for more than a few minutes he ends up sounding just like them. This can be embarrassing when he talks to someone with a distinctive voice who thinks they are being mocked. Last week a woman with a pronounced stutter slapped him.
Etymology: copycat (a person or thing that copies, imitates, mimics, or follows the lead of another) + chat (to converse in a familiar or informal manner)
Imitalk
Created by: Discoveria
Pronunciation: Imm-me-tork
Sentence: The police officer did not take kindly to Simple Simon imitalking. It wasn't his fault that he had such a thick accent, was it guv'nor?
Etymology: Imitate + talk.
Comments:
Today's definition was suggested by Osomatic.
Thank you Osomatic! ~ James
Today's definition was suggested by Osomatic. Thank you Osomatic. ~ James