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Related: Culture Forums, Support ForumsI 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[div align="right"]
[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.
Kaleva
(36,409 posts)JVS
(61,935 posts)we thought pirates talked like?
Bruce Wayne
(692 posts)The town of Penzance!
deucemagnet
(4,549 posts)Yar.
nolabear
(42,009 posts)And in their honor I shall post.
Jimmy's sister, Lucy, has a big restaurant down here.
http://www.lulubuffett.com/index-live.php
nolabear
(42,009 posts)Fried Green Tomatoes with remoulade, staring at the Intercoastal and slurping a daiquiri. Last time was last summer though, so I'm way overdue.
tanyev
(42,692 posts)Iris
(15,679 posts)unionworks
(3,574 posts)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!!!!
underpants
(183,070 posts)unionworks
(3,574 posts)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....
benld74
(9,914 posts)Art_from_Ark
(27,247 posts)Who'd a thunk it?
Odin2005
(53,521 posts)Bruce Wayne
(692 posts)Aristus
(66,531 posts)A major British maritime city.
AsahinaKimi
(20,776 posts)of Robert Newton as Long John Silver.. and his colorful way of speaking..
Bucky
(54,106 posts)A pox on yer stately Wayne Mansion.
derby378
(30,252 posts)For which Wagner is eternally to blame. But damn, the Ring cycle is sweet.