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.
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.
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
----------------------------
Accslident
Created by: petaj
Pronunciation: ack-slide-ent
Sentence: Carrie was the laughing stock of her friends because working in the childcare centre had caused her to accslidently talk like a toddler.
Etymology: accent (vocal styling) + slide (movement) + accident (unplanned, unconscious action)
----------------------------
COMMENTS:
I like it! - jedijawa, 2007-03-21: 00:31:00
thanks jedijawa - petaj, 2007-03-25: 04:14:00
----------------------------
Mirrorator
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
Accentefugue
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
Vernactitude
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)
----------------------------
COMMENTS:
Good for mum! - splendiction, 2009-10-06: 22:43:00
----------------------------
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).
Vograbulary
Created by: ShaggE
Pronunciation:
Sentence: "I met this swedish guy today, he thought I was mocking him with my vograbulary."
Etymology: Grab+ Vocabulary.
Slangadapt
Created by: jonobo
Pronunciation: slangadapt
Sentence: I slangadapted faster than expected, my speech-center got infected, no matter how hard i tried to reject it, so i just neglect it.
Etymology: to adapt the surrounding slang. slang + adapt. simple.
Comments:
Today's definition was suggested by Osomatic.
Thank you Osomatic! ~ James
Today's definition was suggested by Osomatic. Thank you Osomatic. ~ James