Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Catch Up: Part 2
I have been crazy busy. There has has been sewing (and a lot more of that to come), pirating, partying (ok, birthday party) and not much trivia - trying to catch up with everything else.
I'm going to try and get some posts up on the Darrell/Alex Birthday party and pirating at the Museum later today...
Friday, July 3, 2009
Pirate Talk 101: The Last Part - Respectful Address, Toasts and Declamations
Modifiers and Nouns to express respect, praise or appreciation of your pirate brethren.
| Pirate | Translation |
| Questions | |
| Am I explicit? | Do I make myself clear? |
| As how? | How so? |
| Be that plain enough? | Is that understood? |
| Do I speak in reason? | Do I make sense? |
| Do you fancy ____? | Do you think / want? |
| How be ____? | How is it that ____? |
| How comes it ___? | How is that ___? |
| How say you (of/to ___) | What do you think of ___? |
| How’s she lie? | What’s the heading? |
| Is not this the truth of it? | Isn’t that truth? |
| See the course I lay? | Catch my drift? |
| What(ever) ails you? | What’s wrong? |
| What course should we steer next? | What’s next? / Now what? |
| What do you think you’ re about | What do you think you are doing? |
| What mean you by ___? | What are you ___? |
| What o’clock is it? | What time is it? |
| What say you to this? | What do you think? |
| What’s your trouble? | What’s wrong? |
| Where lays your course? | Where are you? |
| Who comes/goes? | Who’s there? |
| Who hailed you? | Who asked you? |
| Will you be pleased to ___? | Would you ___? |
| Positive Replies | |
| And with a will | I’m all for it. |
| As you say | Affirmation |
| VERB it is | “Drink, it is.” |
| Now there was a true word as ever was heard spoke | You speak the truth |
| That be about the measure of it | That’s about right. |
| There’s reason/sense in that | That stands to reason / Makes sense |
| True as death | Absolutely true |
| Negative Replies | |
| Never think it | Don’t even think it |
| That bite won’t take | That won’t work |
| Some might say one thing and some another | Diffuse a disagreement |
| That’s trifle | Unimportant |
| ‘tis no matter | It doesn’t matter |
“Boldness and drink are cornerstones of pirate life; the two merge neatly when strong words are spoken over raised cups.”
| Here’s to ourselves, the hold your luff, plenty of prizes and plenty of duff |
| To our next merry meeting |
| Curse all rovers who should ever give quarter to an Englishman |
| To the luck of the Brotherhood |
| A merry life and a short one |
| Of all liquor commend me to rum |
| A pirate’s life is the only life for a man of any spirit. |
| Pirate’s have no God but their money, nor savior but their arms |
| There’s nought like liquor for putting the devil into a man |
This primer was summarized from the book "The Pirate Primer: Mastering the Language of Swashbucklers and Rogues" by George Choundas and available here.
Pirate Talk 101: Next to the Last Part - Questions & Replies
| Pirate | Translation |
| Questions | |
| Am I explicit? | Do I make myself clear? |
| As how? | How so? |
| Be that plain enough? | Is that understood? |
| Do I speak in reason? | Do I make sense? |
| Do you fancy ____? | Do you think / want? |
| How be ____? | How is it that ____? |
| How comes it ___? | How is that ___? |
| How say you (of/to ___) | What do you think of ___? |
| How’s she lie? | What’s the heading? |
| Is not this the truth of it? | Isn’t that truth? |
| See the course I lay? | Catch my drift? |
| What(ever) ails you? | What’s wrong? |
| What course should we steer next? | What’s next? / Now what? |
| What do you think you’ re about | What do you think you are doing? |
| What mean you by ___? | What are you ___? |
| What o’clock is it? | What time is it? |
| What say you to this? | What do you think? |
| What’s your trouble? | What’s wrong? |
| Where lays your course? | Where are you? |
| Who comes/goes? | Who’s there? |
| Who hailed you? | Who asked you? |
| Will you be pleased to ___? | Would you ___? |
| Positive Replies | |
| And with a will | I’m all for it. |
| As you say | Affirmation |
| VERB it is | “Drink, it is.” |
| Now there was a true word as ever was heard spoke | You speak the truth |
| That be about the measure of it | That’s about right. |
| There’s reason/sense in that | That stands to reason / Makes sense |
| True as death | Absolutely true |
| Negative Replies | |
| Never think it | Don’t even think it |
| That bite won’t take | That won’t work |
| Some might say one thing and some another | Diffuse a disagreement |
| That’s trifle | Unimportant |
| ‘tis no matter | It doesn’t matter |
This primer was summarized from the book "The Pirate Primer: Mastering the Language of Swashbucklers and Rogues" by George Choundas and available here.
Pirate Talk 101: Important Part - Retorts
Retorts express surprise, ridicule, indignation or agreement of insults, epithets, curses or oaths.
Five General Forms:
Ain’t you the ADJECTIVE one?
Used with an adjective that mocks.
Ain’t you the pretty one.
And VERB + SUBJECT so?
Repeats the verb and subject from the insult/epithet/etc. to form a question.
And do ye so? And will he so?
The devil SUBJECT + VERB
The devil they have. The devil they do.
VERB + SUBJECT now?
Don’t ye now?
So now you’re + VERB PHRASE are ‘ee?
So now you’re askin’ me to trust you, are ‘ee?
| Pirate | Translation |
| Be you out of your head? | Are you crazy? |
| Do you threaten? | Response to a threat |
| Explain your meaning | What do you mean? |
| Flatterer | Take insult as compliment |
| Have you gone daft? | Have you lost your mind? |
| I admire your spirit much more that your discretion | Response to bold or assertive statement |
| I do my possible, which that ain’t | That is out of the question. |
| I ___ for no man, few women, and take orders from neither | Response to a command. |
| It is of no account/matter | It doesn’t matter |
| Passion is an ill word to steer by | Retort to hot-tempered remark |
| That’d be so? | Really? |
| That’s your sort, is it? | That’s what you’re like |
| ‘tis a foul tongue yours | Response to profane, uncivil, uncouth |
| ‘tis joy to me | That makes me happy. |
| Trifles | The things you speak of do not matter. |
| What mean you by this? | What is that supposed to mean? |
| What of it? | So what? |
| Who be you? | Who do you think you are? |
| You shall VERB with the devil | Go VERB in hell |
| You’re a diamond | You’re the best. |
| You’re a EPITHET to give me those words | See Epithets Table |
| You’re full of prating | You’re babbling |
| You’re neither mad nor a fool and yet talk like both | Crazy and stupid |
| You’re not talking to low sailor hand | Who do you think you are talking to |
| You’re overly apt with your tongue | You talk too much |
| You’ve the tongue of some fouled scupper | You have a filthy mouth |
This primer was summarized from the book "The Pirate Primer: Mastering the Language of Swashbucklers and Rogues" by George Choundas and available here.
Pirate Talk 101: One of the Best Parts - Threats, Oaths, Curses and Insults
A threat is a warning that something unpleasant is imminent.
| I’ll fly your bloody head as my banner |
| I’ll have you for my prize |
| I’ll let out your evil soul by incision of steel |
| I’ll peel your skin like a mango |
| I’ll send you with my service to the devil |
| I’ll slit the veins on your arms and use your blood to warm my rum |
| I’ll tear out your tongue and let it flap in the sun |
| I’ll watch you dance the yardarm jig |
| ‘tis a sin to suffer such a <EPITHET> as you live |
| You’ll go down with the tide |
| You’ll rue the day your mother ever spawned you |
Oaths add emphasis and are used to ‘swear that it is true’. Oaths are used to convey something sharply or deeply felt.
| Pirate | Translation |
| As I am a soul | As I live and breathe |
| Bloody hell | Used with –what, how, when, who or why |
| By all that is great and good | By God |
| Dear heart | My dear / Used for emphasis |
| I would have my soul fry in hell-fire | I swear |
| Snoggers | Used to avoid more offensive words |
| Upon my life | I swear on my own life |
Curses are the building blocks of pirate profanity. Curses wish harm on someone or something. A Curse says ‘you’ll suffer’.
| Pirate | Translation |
| Curse you for breathing | Damn you for living |
| Damn you the depths | Damn you to hell |
| Devil take you | Go to hell |
| Flog off | Fuck off |
| Plague seize you | Express anger, disgust and frustration |
Insults identify something bad about the addressee. The insult is substantive and often observational.
| Pirate | Translation |
| Tailor is your trade | You’re not fit to be a pirate. |
| You’ve a split tongue. | Liar |
| Some phrases need no translation… | |
| Beezelbub himself could hardly desire better company | |
| Here’s fine stuff for the gallows | |
| Hold you tongue and your whinin’ for them that’s at your beck and call, because I ain’t | |
| There is more fire in a small, dead fish that in all your slow body | |
| Yellow was never a pirates color | |
| You always was trouble | |
| You got no more brain than a sea-turtle | |
| You should be more a man and less a fish | |
| Your mind’s unhinged | |
| You’ve neither sense nor memory | |
This primer was summarized from the book "The Pirate Primer: Mastering the Language of Swashbucklers and Rogues" by George Choundas and available here.
Pirate Talk 101: The Part after the Third - Epithets
Epithets are a defamatory or abusive words; basically name calling.
| Pirate | Translation |
| Modifiers |
|
| Barnacle-covered | Old / slow |
| Bile-ladden | Detestable |
| Bilge-sucking | I think it’s obvious |
| Blundering | Clumsy |
| Boosy | Drunk |
| Dull-(witted) | Stupid |
| Feckless | Incompetent |
| Foppish | Dandy |
| Half-masted | Worthless |
| Half-witted | Foolish |
| Loutish | Stupid |
| Rutting | Horny |
| Shirking | Lazy |
| Skulking | Cowardly |
| Sniveling | Whining |
| Sodden | Drunken |
| Twopenny | Cheap |
| Nouns | |
| Blighter | Annoying / Jerk |
| Buffoon | Idiot |
| Bugger | Jerk |
| Crow’s-bait | Scumbag |
| Curmudgeon | Greedy / Difficult / Ornery |
| Dolt | Fool |
| Fuddler | Drunkard |
| Git | Lowlife |
| Laggard | Slow |
| Loggerhead | Fool |
| Louse | Disgusting person |
| Popinjay | Arrogant / ostentatious |
| Princock | Conceited / Arrogant / Overbearing |
| Snip | Insignificant person |
| Sot | Drunkard |
| Sprat | Little piece of crap |
| Turncoat | Treachery |
This primer was summarized from the book "The Pirate Primer: Mastering the Language of Swashbucklers and Rogues" by George Choundas and available here.
Pirate Talk 101: Third from the Beginning - Flourishes
Today, we will talk about Flourishes. Flourishes are ways for pirates to modify, qualify, draw attention to, reinforce, comment on or otherwise supplement what is being said. In other words, a way to use a lot of words to say a small amout.
| Pirate | Translation |
| Add to this | Furthermore |
| All told | Ultimately |
| Amen, so it be | Used after stating ones views, beliefs or desires. |
| And a pity it is | Unfortunately |
| And be done with it | Get it over with / Get it done already |
| And glad of it | Pleased with |
| As it chances | As it turns out |
| As I’ve reason to know | I know this is true / my opinion |
| By my reckoning | As I see it / My thinking is that |
| Make no doubt of that | You can be sure of that |
| D’ye see / think / understand | Do you see / think / understand. |
| Give me leave to say | Let me say |
| I dare to think | I think / suppose |
| I doubt not | I have no doubt that |
| I hold that | It’s my view that |
| I would wager a handsome adventure | I would bet a lot of money |
| If I may make so bold | Used before a presumptous statement to make it unoffensively. |
| If what I hear be right | If my information be correct |
| If you asks me | As far as I am concerned |
| If you kindly will | If you would |
| In a manner of speaking | As it were |
| In the meanwhile | In the meantime |
| Look here | Emphasis on an assertive statement |
| Mark | Listen / Remember |
| Mark well my words | Listen to what I am saying |
| Mark you this | Listen / Remember this |
| Methinks | I think |
| Never a doubt | Without a doubt |
| Never you fear | Don’t worry |
| I’m mistook | I’m mistaken |
| That’s a true word | That’s the truth |
| To my sorrow | Unfortunately |
| Upon my honour | On my word |
| Well and good | That’s fine |
| You may depend on it | You can be sure of that |
This primer was summarized from the book "The Pirate Primer: Mastering the Language of Swashbucklers and Rogues" by George Choundas and available here.
Pirate Talk 101: Second Part - Commands
Today, we will review Commands. A command is an authoritative direction or instruction to do something. Below are various parts to build and respond a command. They include pre-command phrases, command responses, negative command phrases and a few of the nasic ship commands.
| Pirate | Translation |
| Phrases before a command | |
| Be so good to | You had better / Please |
| I’ll thank you to | You had better |
| There’s a good lad | That’s a good boy |
| You best be | You should be |
| Phrases after a command | |
| If you please | Please |
| Negative Commands | |
| Don’t be <verb>ing | Do not <verb> |
| He that <verb phrase> makes an enemy of me | If you <verb phrase>, I will be your enemy. |
| There will no | You will not |
| Command Openers | |
| Here now | Pay attention |
| Mind you | Bear in mind |
| Command Closers | |
| And lively | Hurry |
| And look sharp about it | Act like you like it |
| Say I | I said |
| Command Responses | |
| As you say | I’ll do as you say |
| Aye Cap’n | Yes Captain |
| Very well | Alright. |
| General Commands | |
| About ship | Turn around |
| Aft here | Come back here |
| Avast and likewise belay | STOP! |
| Away with | Go away |
| Batten down your hatches | Shut up |
| Be comforted | Cheer up |
| Be easy | Calm down |
| Be seen and not heard | Shut up |
| Be warned | Be careful |
| Belay | Stop |
| Bend you ear to this | Listen |
| Clap a stopper on your eyes | Stop crying |
| Clear the turn and run him up | Hang him |
| Come hither | Come here |
| Don’t stir either hand or foot | Don’t move an inch |
| Give way | Get out of the way |
| Heave ahead | Let’s go / Keep going / Move on |
| Hold | Stop / Wait |
| Hold Fast | Stop right there |
| Keep a weather eye open | Keep a close watch |
| Lay your back into it | Put your back into it |
| Let’s to it | Let’s go for it |
| Look at the cut of you | Take a look at yourself |
| Make Haste | Hurry up |
| Make you ready | Get Ready |
| Never say it | Watch your tongue |
| Never you mind | Never mind |
| No more of that | Drop the subject / Stop talking |
| Not a word | Keep quiet |
| Off with you | Go away |
| Put a name on what you’re at | Say what you have to say |
| Remove yourself | Go away |
| Set yourself down | Sit down |
| Show no quarter | Show no mercy |
| Speak of it later | We’ll talk about this later |
| Stand ready | Get ready |
| Steady | Relax; Take it easy |
| Stow that | Forget that / Shut your mouth |
| Think on it | Think about it |
| What you will | Do whatever you want |
| Ship Commands | |
| Go About | Turn around |
| Hard a-larboard / Hard to Larboard | Hard turn to the left |
| Hard a-port / Hard to port | Hard turn to the left |
| Hard Alee / Helms Alee | Hard to leeward (away from the wind) |
| Hard a-starboard / Hard to Starboard | Hard turn to the right |
| Keep her so / Keep her steady | Maintain present heading |
| Lay a course for | Prepare to go |
| Make Speed | Increase velocity |
| So | Just like that |
This primer was summarized from the book "The Pirate Primer: Mastering the Language of Swashbucklers and Rogues" by George Choundas and available here.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Pirate Talk 101: First Part - Greetings & Partings
Next week I will be pirating at Night at the Southern Museum in Kennesaw. In honor of this event, I decided to do a Pirate Talk Primer in multiple parts.
We will begin with common Greetings & Partings. These phrases can be used when meeting or departing from other pirates. “Words of parting should be offered without expectation of reciprocity. Corpses cannot talk. Dead men bid no farewells.”
| Pirate | Translation |
| All my duty to you. | I give you my respects/my best. |
| Be that you? | Is that you? |
| By your leave. | Excuse me / Beg your pardon / Good-bye |
| Fair winds and following seas. | A parting to wish another well. |
| Fortune with you and yours. | A parting - May fortune be your companion. |
| Heave ahead. | Come in / Move ahead |
| Here our ways divide. | Here we go our separate ways. |
| Here’s luck and a fair wind to you. | Greeting and Parting |
| Ho there. | Hello there. |
| How are you called? | What is your name? |
| How fares your day? | How is your day going? |
| How is’t with you? | How are you doing? |
| I be … | My name is…. |
| It’s a very good day/night I be wishing you. | Parting |
| Speak me of yourself. | Tell me about yourself. |
| Speak me your tidings. | Tell me how you are doing. |
| Tell what’s chanced you. | What have you been up to? |
| What be your name? | What is your name? |
| What do you here? | What are you doing here? |
| What might you call yourself? | What is your name? |
| What would you have? | What do you want? |
| What’s your trouble? | What’s bothering you? |
| Who be you? | Who are you? |
| You come in a fair breeze. | You came at a good time. |
This primer was summarized from the book "The Pirate Primer: Mastering the Language of Swashbucklers and Rogues" by George Choundas and available here.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
The Pirates of the Black Bunny are SAFE!
...but not so sure about those Somolia Pirates. My buddy Zach at the Hockey Cop Blog linked to this article about Pirate Hunting Cruises!
Luckily, this crew is more about the rum and much less about the AK-47's!
Sunday, April 26, 2009
South Park: Somalian Pirates
The Lyrics:
We drink and we pillage and we do what we please
We get all we want for free
We'll kick your ass and rape your lass
Somalian pirates we!
So with a yo-ho-ho (yo ho ho!)
and with a yee-hee-hee (yee hee hee!)
We take to the African sea.
We'll brave the squalls and bust your balls
Somalian pirates we!
We left our homes and we left our mutters [mothers]
to go on a pillaging spree
We'll cut of your ears and break your toes,
And make you drink our pee.
And if you sail into our waters
You best hear this decree:
We'll take your boat, set your ass afloat,
Somalian pirates we!
With a yo-ho-ho and a tricki-la-ti-doo
We'll shoot you in the face with glee
Then we'll cut off your cock and feed it to a croc
Somalian pirates we!
And the video to sing along too...
