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.
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".
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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
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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
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
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)
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COMMENTS:
Good for mum! - splendiction, 2009-10-06: 22:43:00
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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".
Locanaut
Created by: sisica
Pronunciation: LO-kah-not
Sentence: Did you hear that guy just locanaut? He said "y'all" and "ya reckon" but he told us he's from Oregon! I don't think they talk like that in Oregon!
Etymology: Loca -- from Local Naut -- from the Greek "naut" which means pertaining to ships or sailors, but used in "astronaut" as in a "star sailor." In this case, it would imply "sailing" of regions. Of course, considering that it sounds like "NOT," it also serves as a play on the words, suggesting "Local -- NOT!!"
Apeoplexy
Created by: porsche
Pronunciation: ape/oh/plexi
Sentence: The teacher was felled by a sudden attack of apeoplexy
Etymology: ape (mimic) + apoplexy (sudden loss or impairment)
Linguistricks
Created by: mrskellyscl
Pronunciation: ling-gwist-tricks
Sentence: Professor Jones was skilled at linguistricks; however he clearly had been spending too much time with his students when he was heard in the faculty room saying, "Dude...I was like...and she was like...and then we like.....ya, know?"
Etymology: linguistics: the study of the nature, structure and variation of languages; + tricks: particular trait or mannerism; special skill or knack
Dialectick
Created by: Nuwanda
Pronunciation: die-a-leck-tick
Sentence: For most of his life, Joe was able to avoid mishap caused by his dialectick. Growing up in Central Iowa, no one seemed to notice or care much when he affected the speech patterns of a Keokuk-ian or Des Moines-ite. But his dialectick did not serve him well when he got a job at the Starbucks across the street from U.N. headquarters. He was fired after two hours because of complaints that he was taunting the customers.
Etymology: Dialect (dialect n. A regional or social variety of a language distinguished by pronunciation, grammar, or vocabulary, especially a variety of speech.) + tic (A habitual spasmodic muscular movement or contraction, usually of the face or extremities)
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'
Comments:
Today's definition was suggested by Osomatic.
Thank you Osomatic! ~ James
Today's definition was suggested by Osomatic. Thank you Osomatic. ~ James