Vote for the best verboticism.

'OMG YGLT Shakespeare'

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.

Create | Read

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.

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

| Comments and Points

Grammaeleon

artr

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)

----------------------------
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

----------------------------

| Comments and Points

Vograbulary

Created by: ShaggE

Pronunciation:

Sentence: "I met this swedish guy today, he thought I was mocking him with my vograbulary."

Etymology: Grab+ Vocabulary.

| Comments and Points

Slangfreudianslip

Created by: Jabberwocky

Pronunciation: slang/froydian/slip

Sentence: Oops another slangfreudianslip - I must get back to my psychoanalysis

Etymology: slang + freudian slip + sangfroid

| Comments and Points

Lexidapt

Created by: ziggy41

Pronunciation: (lecks-uh-dapt)

Sentence: Musicians are somewhat known for the ability to lexidapt one's speech within minutes.

Etymology: From Greek "lexis-" (word) and Latin "adaptare" (to fit, to adjust).

| Comments and Points

Copychat

Created by: Bulletchewer

Pronunciation: cop-ee-chat

Sentence: Leanne would copychat his posh accent to make her client feel more at ease.

Etymology: From "copy cat" and "chat".

----------------------------
COMMENTS:

exchatullent word! - wordmeister, 2007-03-20: 10:14:00

You got my vote. Our words seem similarly inspired - great minds... :D - Discoveria, 2007-03-20: 10:31:00

----------------------------

| Comments and Points

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

----------------------------
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

----------------------------

| Comments and Points

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.

----------------------------
COMMENTS:

Memic Mia, good word. - Nosila, 2009-10-06: 18:09:00

----------------------------

| Comments and Points

Copychat

artr

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)

| Comments and Points

Mimidic

Created by: Laala

Pronunciation: The first syllable is stressed.

Sentence:

Etymology: to mimic= to imitate, dicere (latin)= to say

| Comments and Points

Show All or More...

 

Comments:

Verbotomy Verbotomy - 2007-03-20: 00:00:33
Today's definition was suggested by Osomatic.
Thank you Osomatic! ~ James

Verbotomy Verbotomy - 2009-10-06: 00:14:00
Today's definition was suggested by Osomatic. Thank you Osomatic. ~ James