Since 2002, children and adults alike revert back to the days when pirates sailed the oceans and grammar was a little more colorful. Today (Sept 19th) is Talk Like a Pirate Day and many are getting ready to walk the plank and shiver me timbers!
At first an inside joke between two friends playing racquetball, the holiday gained exposure when John Baur and Mark Summers (aka “Cap’n Slappy” and “Ol’ Chumbucket”) 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 Barry’s column has ensured that this event is now celebrated internationally, and Baur and Summers now sell books and T-shirts on their website related to the theme.
Did You Know…
William Dampier, an English pirate, was responsible for introducing many words in the English language still in use today? Some of these include caress, chopsticks, posse, barbecue, and snug. An amateur natural historian, he was also the first person in the world to circumnavigate the world thrice.
Top Ten Phrases for Talking Like a Pirate On a Boat
- Ahoy! = Hello
- Aye = Yes
- Blimey! = Suprise / Shock
- Booty = Treasure
- Landblubber = Lack of Sailing Skills
- Old Salt = Experienced Sailor
- Yo Ho Ho! = Cheerful Expression
- Shiver Me Timbers! = Holy Cow
- Scallywag = Mild Insult / Joking Term
- Walk the Plank = Prisoner Forced Overboard
How to Celebrate?
Celebrating talk like a pirate day can be as easy as a day in the tropic. Simply turn up your piratical vernacular, pour a few fruity drinks with umbrellas in them, and gather with friends to celebrate the day in your piratey best! Here are a few ideas to help make the day a blimey success.
- Dress up like a swashbuckling pirate. Bonus points if you are able to carry a parrot or a monkey on your shoulder.
- Talk like a pirate the whole day long. Intersperse your speech with grunts and growls and slur your words. Call your friends “matey” and intentionally use bad grammar.
- Host a pirate themed party and ask your guests to come dressed as pirates.
- Watch movies and read books that feature pirates as central characters. Some examples include the Pirates of the Caribbean film series and Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson.
- Read more about the history of piracy and famous pirates.
