September 12, 2006 > Ahoy, be on the lookout for talkin' pirates- Gar

by Linda Stone

Aye, callin' all pirates and pirate wannabes, start brushin' up your piratespeak for Sept. 19, the "formally" recognized "International Speak Like A Pirate Day."

While playin' their weekly racquetball game in 1995, Mark Summers a.k.a. Cap'n Slappy and John Baur a.k.a. Ol' Chumbucket, started talkin' like pirates. Why? No one verily knows for sure, but, it caught on. O'er the years, they built a website and thin's started spreadin' by word o' mouth. They e'en got a mention by well-known columnist Da'e Barry in 2002. Now it has become a "cult hit."

The date, September 19 was chosen as it is Cap'n Slappy's ex-wife's birthday. Gar, Where can I find a bottle o'rum?

Pirate aficionados be expected t' talk like a pirate at work, home, and e'erywhar they go that day. For those who be not familiar with piratespeak har be some tips:

Argh!: The standard pirate greeting, like "Hello!"

Avast!: Used to get someone's attention, like "Hey! Means "Stop!"'

Arrr: A more general pirate term, used to agree or express enthusiam.

Jub: Short for "land lubber" or landlover a piratical term of derision.

Siren: A woman of the sea who lures men to their doom with her sweet song.

Savvy: It means something like, "Do you understand, mate?"

Jolly Roger: The skull and crossbone flag flown by pirates.

Gar: the sound a pirate makes. Can be used as a question, an interjection, or statement.

Grog, a delicious beverage made out of rum, water and limes. It served to keep the water from growing algae, keep the sailors happy (but not TOO drunk), and keep them full of lime juice, to prevent scurvy. When talking like a pirate, it's fitting to call just about any beverage 'grog', and then you must swill it as vigorously as possible.

Davey Jones's Locker - The place at the bottom of the sea where drowned pirates go. Davey Jones is an evil spirit that lives in the cold depths of the ocean.

So, go into work and say to your boss: Aye, hi boss, did you know today is Talk Like A Pirate Day? I plan t' talk like this all day long. Just in case you need t' figure out what I am sayin', har is a piratespeak dictionary. Ye'll ne'er get me buried booty!

Arrr, if you be lookin' t' hang with some pirates, check out Fremont's 'ery own pirate store, Seawolf Tradin' Company, located at 36551 Fremont Bl'd., (510) 494-0533. Owner Don Hatcher says t' come on in t' his store and find lots o' pirate gear and piratespeak.

Gar.