Posted on 09/19/2007 8:02:43 AM PDT by BJClinton
International Talk Like a Pirate Day (ITLAPD) is a parodic holiday invented in 1995 by John Baur ("Ol' Chumbucket") and Mark Summers ("Cap'n Slappy"), of the United States, who proclaimed September 19 each year as the day when everyone in the world should talk like a pirate. For example, an observer of this holiday would greet friends not with "Hello", but with "Ahoy, me hearty!" The date was selected because it was the birthday of Summers's ex-wife and consequently would be easy for him to remember.
At first an inside joke between two friends, the holiday gained exposure when Baur and Summers sent a letter about their invented holiday to the American syndicated humor columnist Dave Barry in 2002. Barry liked the idea and promoted the day. Growing media coverage of the holiday after Dave Barry's column has ensured that this event is now celebrated internationally.
Baur and Summers found new fame in the 2006 season premiere episode of ABC's Wife Swap, first aired September 18, 2006. They starred in the role of "a family of pirates" along with John's wife, Tori.
Actor Robert Newton, who portrayed Long John Silver in the 1950 Disney film Treasure Island, is the patron saint of Talk Like A Pirate Day. Newton was a native of Dorset, and it was his native West Country dialect, which he used in his portrayal of Long John Silver and Blackbeard, that has become the standard "pirate accent". As the association of pirates with peg legs, parrots and treasure maps was popularized in Robert Louis Stevenson's novel Treasure Island (1883), the influence of Stevenson's book on parody pirate culture cannot be overstated.
Arrrgh, what be this matey?
Arrrr, Oi’ve been tarking loike a pirrrate since the morrrrrnin’, an’ no one’s caught on herrrre at worrrrk. An’ the lass overrr in rrrrow 4 ‘asn’t agrrrrreed to surrrrrenderrr herrr booty just yet. But she be a foin wench, and Oi’ll just take ‘errr prriz’nerrr soon an’ takes it forrr meself by end of day. Arrg!
Arr, did not come up in ye search engine.
Arrrrrr you serious??
"My goodness, you have a wooden leg. How did you lose your leg Captain?"
Arrr. A great white shark bit it clean off when I fell overboard going around the Cape.
"My goodness, you have a hook instead of a hand. How did you lose you hand Captain?"
Arrr. A cannonball lopped it off pretty as you please in a fight with another pirate ship.
"My goodness, you have a patch over your eye. How did you lose your eye Captain?
Arrr. A seagull pooped on me.
"My gracious, a seagull pooped in your eye and put it out Captain?"
Aye matey. It was me first day with the hook.
Your pirate name is:
Captain Davy Read
Even though there’s no legal rank on a pirate ship, everyone recognizes you’re the one in charge. Even through many pirates have a reputation for not being the brightest souls on earth, you defy the sterotypes. You’ve got taste and education. Arr!
But, I don’t want to talk like a Pirate!!!
Aye, it be series, me hearty
Arr, matey, best be gettin' wit the program! And, here's your shirt!
Part crazy, part mangy, all rabid, you're the pirate all the others fear might just snap soon. You have the good fortune of having a good name, since Rackham (pronounced RACKem, not rack-ham) is one of the coolest sounding surnames for a pirate. Arr!
At least I don't smell. LOL
I’m sure you smell fine.
Arrr!
Ye must be me brother!
For I am: BLOODY TOM RACKHAM!!
ARRRRRRR!!!!!!
Iron Jack Vane
A pirate’s life isn’t easy; it takes a tough person. That’s okay with you, though, since you a tough person. You tend to blend into the background occasionally, but that’s okay, because it’s much easier to sneak up on people and disembowel them that way. Arr!
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