Arr, it be talk like a pirate day!
Aye, today, September the 19th, is International Talk Like A Pirate Day. “What?” I hear you cry… Shi’er me timbers, you deserve t’ walk the plank if you’ve had your head buried in the sand, like Da’y Jones’ treasure, o’er the last couple o’ years. Arrr, tis’ had massive media coverage.
Ahoy, this glorious day was in’ented in 1995 by John Baur (Ol’ Chumbucket) and Mark Summers (Cap’n Slappy). Tis’ the only holiday t’ have come int’ bein’ as a result o’ a sports injury. Cap’n Slappy claims that durin’ a racquetball game, one o’ them reacted t’ the pain with an outburst o’ “Aaarrr!”, and the idea was born. That game took place on June 6, 1995, but out o’ respect for the obser’ance o’ D-day, they chose Summers’ ex-wife’s birthday, as it would be easy for him t’ remember.
Actor Robert Newton, who was Long John Silver in the 1950 Disney film “Treasure Island” and then in the 1954 film “Long John Silver”, is the patron saint o’ Talk Like A Pirate Day. Newton was a native o’ Dorset, and it was his West Country accent, which he used in his portrayal o’ Long John Silver and Blackbeard, that has become the standard “pirate accent”. Aye.
Arrr, t’ celebrate the day, Google have added “pirate” t’ their list o’ a’ailable languages (joinin’ Klingon, Pig Latin and Elmer Fudd, among others). T’ select it, and you should, got’ “preferences” on the main search page. Thar’s also the London Pirate Festi’al takin’ place this weekend on the South Bank and in the West End. Rum tastin’, pirate boat parties, and random skirmishes be all planned.
Aye, lastly, for a guide on how t’ talk like a pirate, you should check out the Official British Hq o’ Talk Like A Pirate Day, hosted by Mad Cap’n Tom. Shi’er me timbers. Ye can also install this iPhone applcation, though real Pirates run Linux.
Related booty: Ahoy, the Pirate Bay has a new enemy – International Olympic Committee asks Swedish shanty men t’ remo’e torrents. Me parrot disagrees | Arrr, Microsoft hits software pirates with 21 lawsuits Ye’ll ne’er get me buried booty, though!
