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.
Vomimical
Created by: ellianth
Pronunciation: Vo-mim-mic
Sentence: Before he knew it Mr. Teacher was vomimicing Susan's SMS lingo.
Etymology: Vomimmic
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!!"
Dialecturer
Created by: Nosila
Pronunciation: dy aa lek tur er
Sentence: When Professor Higgins gave one of his English Literature courses, he always spoke with the accent of the writer. For Burns, he'd burl his r's to sound Scottish;for Shakespeare he spoketh hey nonny nonny in the quaint speech of the time and for Chaucer, he perfected olde English so well, none could understand a word he spaketh. He was a true dialecturer.
Etymology: Dialect (accent, the usage or vocabulary that is characteristic of a specific group of people) & Lecturer (someone who lectures professionally, a public lecturer at certain universities)
Accentufake
Created by: Loreshai
Pronunciation: ack sent you fake
Sentence: Bill accentufaked his reading of Shakespeare so that the ignorant children might learn something.
Etymology: accentuate- to highlight a certain item + fake - not real ( also a play on "accent you fake")
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.
Imitalk
Created by: Discoveria
Pronunciation: Imm-me-tork
Sentence: The police officer did not take kindly to Simple Simon imitalking. It wasn't his fault that he had such a thick accent, was it guv'nor?
Etymology: Imitate + talk.
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
----------------------------
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
----------------------------
Mirrormate
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)
Paraphonics
Created by: CharlieB
Pronunciation: para-fon-icks
Sentence: Scientists in the field of paraphonics have found the perfect example of manipulative parodiction: high-profile chef James Olivier and former Prime Minister Tommy Bleurgh both move easily between Estuary English and RP depending on their audience.
Etymology: parody (to imitate poorly or feebly) + phonic (of or pertaining to speech)
Comments:
Today's definition was suggested by Osomatic.
Thank you Osomatic! ~ James
Today's definition was suggested by Osomatic. Thank you Osomatic. ~ James