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.

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Verboticisms

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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

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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)

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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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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.

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COMMENTS:

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

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Linguistricks

mrskellyscl

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

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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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Echolocution

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

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

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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")

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Phoneticopy

Created by: mweinmann

Pronunciation: fone - et - eh - kopee

Sentence: Maurice continued to phoneticopy everything his students said, even when they showed their displeasure.

Etymology: phonetic (of or relating to speech sounds), copy

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COMMENTS:

Perfect word for the definition - splendiction, 2009-10-06: 22:41:00

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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)

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Vernaculitis

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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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