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Bruce Wayne

(692 posts)
Thu Apr 19, 2012, 06:09 PM Apr 2012

I just read the saddest news of my life. Pirates didn't talk like pirates. Arrrr...... NO!!!

http://io9.com/5842501/avast-mateys-it-turns-out-pirate-talk-is-based-on-lies-propagated-by-disney

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[font size="4"]Avast, mateys: It turns out "pirate talk" is based on lies propagated by Disney[/font]

"There isn't much in the way of scientific evidence in regards to pirate speech," says historian Colin Woodard, author of The Republic of Pirates: Being the True and Surprising Story of the Caribbean Pirates and the Man Who Brought Them Down.

In fact, according to this article by National Geographic's Ker Than, many of the pirate phrases we're all familiar with can actually be traced back to the 1950s Disney movie Treasure Island, starring Robert Newton in the fictional role of pirate Long John Silver.

"Newton's performance — full of 'arrs,' 'shiver me timbers,' and references to landlubbers — not only stole the show, it permanently shaped pop culture's vision of how pirates looked, acted, and spoke," Woodard told Than.

Woodard explains, "Newton based his pirate talk in the film on the dialect of his native West Country in southwestern England, which just happened to be where Long John Silver hailed from in the Treasure Island novel.

"In the English West Country during early 20th century, 'arr' was an affirmation, not unlike the Canadian 'eh,' and maritime expressions were a part of everyday speech," {Woodard} said.


This is what I'd've looked like if I was a privateer.
20 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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I just read the saddest news of my life. Pirates didn't talk like pirates. Arrrr...... NO!!! (Original Post) Bruce Wayne Apr 2012 OP
So I was just looking like a fool the past few decades doing pirate talk? Kaleva Apr 2012 #1
Wait, does this mean that the West Country is a part of the world where everyone talks like what... JVS Apr 2012 #2
Yes, in and around the town of (wait for it) Bruce Wayne Apr 2012 #4
This be disappointin'. deucemagnet Apr 2012 #3
They do once a year, and at Jimmy Buffett concerts. nolabear Apr 2012 #5
Homey! trof Apr 2012 #7
You think I ain't been to LuLu's? nolabear Apr 2012 #16
Awrrrr. tanyev Apr 2012 #6
I freakin' love the Lounge! Iris Apr 2012 #8
NO WAIT! unionworks Apr 2012 #9
I thought Long John Silver was from the mini-mall in front of the Babys'R'Us underpants Apr 2012 #10
Long John Silver unionworks Apr 2012 #11
What about on National Talk Like a Pirate Day? I bet they did,,,,, benld74 Apr 2012 #12
You mean, Monty Python got their pirate jargon from Disney? Art_from_Ark Apr 2012 #13
The West Country dialect is one of the few English dialects that don't R-drop. Odin2005 Apr 2012 #14
Are ye kiddin', ya bleedin' skrimshank? They be droppin' them Arrrs all oavar Davy Jones' lockarrrrr Bruce Wayne Apr 2012 #17
More specifically, Long John Silver's accent hails from Bristol. Aristus Apr 2012 #15
Thought I would toss in this clip AsahinaKimi Apr 2012 #18
Yarr. Ye be keel-haulin' me heart, ye scurvey laden bag o' bones. Bucky May 2012 #19
Not that far removed from the ubiquitous horned Viking helmet derby378 May 2012 #20

JVS

(61,935 posts)
2. Wait, does this mean that the West Country is a part of the world where everyone talks like what...
Thu Apr 19, 2012, 06:47 PM
Apr 2012

we thought pirates talked like?

nolabear

(41,902 posts)
16. You think I ain't been to LuLu's?
Fri Apr 20, 2012, 12:54 AM
Apr 2012

Fried Green Tomatoes with remoulade, staring at the Intercoastal and slurping a daiquiri. Last time was last summer though, so I'm way overdue.

 

unionworks

(3,574 posts)
9. NO WAIT!
Thu Apr 19, 2012, 07:38 PM
Apr 2012

You guys didn't read carefully! The dialect used in Treasure Island is from southwestern England, which IS REALLY WHERE LONG JOHN SILVER WAS FROM. THE DIALECT PROBABLY HASN'T. CHANGED MUCH, so that is probably what Long John sounded like! ARRRRRR!!!!

 

unionworks

(3,574 posts)
11. Long John Silver
Thu Apr 19, 2012, 08:05 PM
Apr 2012

Last edited Thu Apr 19, 2012, 10:02 PM - Edit history (1)

...was a "fictional"character from "Treasure Island". He is the archetypical PIRATE, bigger than life and realer than real!


He was also a cool song by Jefferson STARSHIP and he fears no King....

AsahinaKimi

(20,776 posts)
18. Thought I would toss in this clip
Sat Apr 21, 2012, 06:08 AM
Apr 2012

of Robert Newton as Long John Silver.. and his colorful way of speaking..

Bucky

(53,757 posts)
19. Yarr. Ye be keel-haulin' me heart, ye scurvey laden bag o' bones.
Fri May 4, 2012, 08:38 PM
May 2012

A pox on yer stately Wayne Mansion.

derby378

(30,252 posts)
20. Not that far removed from the ubiquitous horned Viking helmet
Fri May 4, 2012, 09:01 PM
May 2012

For which Wagner is eternally to blame. But damn, the Ring cycle is sweet.

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