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'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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Chameleunaware

Created by: rikboyee

Pronunciation: cuh-meal-ee-un-ah-wear

Sentence: everyone at the old folks home found it amusing when the young janitor started saying things like 'whippersnapper' and 'in my day'... but even more amusing was that he was totally chameleunaware

Etymology: chameleon, unaware

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COMMENTS:

Nice switcheroo on the typical linguistic ageism. - wordmeister, 2007-03-20: 10:19:00

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Paraphonics

CharlieB

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)

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Copychat

libertybelle

Created by: libertybelle

Pronunciation: cop-ee-chat

Sentence: When I first met Floyd, I thought he was mocking my Jersey accent but I soon realized he was just a copychat when he picked up a Brogue when we visited Dublin.

Etymology: copy + chat and a play on the word copycat

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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.

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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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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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Versonify

jasonmichaelhayes

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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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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Talkonalog

Created by: mana1066

Pronunciation: talk-on-a-log

Sentence: When hanging around Tyrone, Winston used his black talkonalog.

Etymology: talk + take on + dialog

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Mimeojargon

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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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