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...
You have two votes. Click on the words to read the details, then vote your favorite.
Lingle
Created by: ErWenn
Pronunciation: /ˈlɪŋɡl/
Sentence: George had never heard a true French accent before, so when he started lingling on his visit to Paris, he sounded like Pepé Le Pew and got the snot beaten out of him at a café.
Etymology: From lingo + mingle
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COMMENTS:
nice word - wordmeister, 2007-03-20: 23:21:00
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Slangfreudianslip
Created by: Jabberwocky
Pronunciation: slang/froydian/slip
Sentence: Oops another slangfreudianslip - I must get back to my psychoanalysis
Etymology: slang + freudian slip + sangfroid
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.
Verbmitate
Created by: juliar
Pronunciation:
Sentence: The skinny white boy verbmitated the gangsters and got shot.
Etymology: comes from "verbal", meaning word, and mitate, as in "imitate".
Versonify
Created by: jasonmichaelhayes
Pronunciation: ver-son-i-fy
Sentence: To better convey his lessons, Mr. Taylor succumbed to SMS versonification.
Etymology: Like personify, but in verse.
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)
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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Assimilinguistics
Created by: galwaywegian
Pronunciation: ass imm ill in gwist icks
Sentence: his particular brand of assimilinguistics failed to let him blend in with his children's friends.
Etymology: assmilate, linguistics
Clonilinguist
Created by: Sketchy
Pronunciation: clone-ILL-ling-WIST
Sentence: Mr. Hubbard is a clonilinguist. His mind auotmatically takes on the speech patterns of the people around him.
Etymology: Clone, Linguist
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COMMENTS:
lol...i thought it was clever, but is more of a noun??? - Sketchy, 2007-03-20: 16:49:00
Loving the slightly risque pun here- even if it was unintentional. - Bulletchewer, 2007-03-20: 18:07:00
definitely funny - wordmeister, 2007-03-20: 23:56:00
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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
Comments:
Today's definition was suggested by Osomatic.
Thank you Osomatic! ~ James
Today's definition was suggested by Osomatic. Thank you Osomatic. ~ James