Verboticisms

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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Created by: splendiction

Pronunciation: EK oh lo koo shun

Sentence: Whenever he could, he would echolocution with his young grandchildren, in an effort to gain their acceptance. Talking with them lead to texting with them, using their own special brand of lingo.

Etymology: From: echo and locution.

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COMMENTS:

Echological thinking... - Nosila, 2009-10-06: 18:08:00

clever - mweinmann, 2009-10-07: 08:19:00

Always been a bit confused about the use of locution and elocution - artr, 2009-10-07: 11:30:00

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Created by: Sed8ed

Pronunciation: vern-ack-u-li-tis

Sentence: She suffered from a severe case of vernaculitis after living in the south for so many years.

Etymology:

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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".

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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.

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Created by: chris

Pronunciation: mi-rerr-mayt

Sentence: Copying the accents and language of people he didn't even know usually ended up with him being thumped - but he couldn't help himself; his urge to mirrormate was totally out of control

Etymology: reflecting (mirror) the style of those around you (mates)

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Created by: Stevenson0

Pronunciation: mim/ee/uh/jar/gon

Sentence: After spending many hours interviewing high school students, the counsellor's mimeojargon became part of her life and her friends just didn't understand her.

Etymology: mimeograph + jargon

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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).

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Created by: erasmus

Pronunciation: mi mac sent

Sentence: Doris was terrible for putting on a mimaccent every time she spoke to someone. Even South Africans thought she was one of them until she said she came from Chawley.

Etymology: from mimic and accent

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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)

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