Today, September 19th, is Talk Like a Pirate Day.
It was started by two guys who, for a variety of reasons, decided that there needed to be a day when everyone talked like a pirate. You can visit their website here: http://www.talklikeapirate.com/piratehome.html.
I wholly support this day and will endeavor to call my friends dirty bilge rats at every opportunity. Just to mix it up, I might also call them filthy bilge rats.
This does raise a question, however: why do pirates say Arrrrr? I have actually tried to look this up, but have found nothing of note. Was there some pirate captain long ago with a speech impediment? Did they do it just to mess with people and it stuck? Does it just sound fierce?
Here is my personal theory: I have said Arrrr on a couple of occasions when I was in so much pain that I went completely inarticulate. For example, the time when I accidentally tore out a toenail (as opposed to the time I did it on purpose). When it happened, I ended up dancing around while holding my foot and making sort of an extended growl that was pretty close to an Arrrr.
So, at some point, there was a pirate who, in the course of his piratical duties, was injured and went Arrrrr! The other pirates thought this was cool and begin imitating him. Or, alternatively, they thought it was funny and began mocking him, as pirates have never been known for their sensitivity.
At any rate, pirates go Arrrr (and the cow goes Mooo and the dog goes Woof and the Black Mamba makes no sound at all). So be sure to say Arrrr, matey! a few times today. All the cool kids are doing it.
Arrrrr,
-Jason
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2 comments:
I think that the pirate's Arrr! originated in Robert Newton's characterisation of Long John Silver in the 1950 version of Treasure Island and subsequently in the 1957 TV series The Adventures of Long john Silver.
Huh - cool. I still like the idea of pirates mocking one of their own, though. Sounds more 'piratey.'
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