0
Usenet Posted 21 years ago
Usage

What was that weird and funny pseudo-language?

I'm looking for a lead on that strange, jokey pseudo-language that was invented by some Englishman (I think), many years ago. All I can remember of it was that he could read a passage of normal English prose and convert it into his own kind of jokey language that was just about intelligible. For example, the word "Christmas" might become "Chrimbly-mould". That's about the only illustration I can think of. I just have this vague recollection of an old guy with no teeth talking it on some black-and-white movie. I think he got quite well known for this unusual skill, and appeared in one or two movies or early TV programs perhaps. Anyone know who I'm talking about? Ideally, I'd like to find an online dictionary of that "language", if one exists. Otherwise, any online examples of it...
Thank you...
K
  

Top answer

Unfortunately, I cannot help you there, but I can provide some insight on pseudo-languages. Most of them involve simply changing some single convention of pronounced English. Pig Latin is the most well known, by misplacing sounds and verbs, the resulting language is difficult to understand to the untrained ear.

— Usenet

  • Unfortunately, I cannot help you there, but I can provide some insight on pseudo-languages.
  • Most of them involve simply changing some single convention of pronounced English.
  • Pig Latin is the most well known, by misplacing sounds and verbs, the resulting language is difficult to understand to the untrained ear.
  • Other pseudo-languages might place a consonant sound before long verb sounds, or the like.
  • Often, these dialects are very easy to learn, and are a huge difference from real English.
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

25 Answers
0
Unfortunately, I cannot help you there, but I can provide some insight on pseudo-languages. Most of them involve simply changing some single convention of pronounced English. Pig Latin is the most well known, by misplacing sounds and verbs, the resulting language is difficult to understand to the untrained ear. Other pseudo-languages might place a consonant sound before long verb sounds, or the li
0
0
[nq:2]Unfortunately, I cannot help you there, but I can provide ... real English. If you cannot find a pseudo-language, invent one.[/nq]
Yes, I have come accross 'pig-Latin' and similar pseudo-languages. The one I am looking for however, is, I think, different from those in that it didn't conform to any exact method. I think he used to make up most of the words on the fly. However, everything
0
0
[nq:1]I'm looking for a lead on that strange, jokey pseudo-language that was invented by some Englishman (I think), many years ... Ideally, I'd like to find an online dictionary of that "language", if one exists. Otherwise, any online examples of it...[/nq]
Many performers have included that type of thing in their act. Professor Irwin Corey comes to mind as does Durwood Fincher, a.k.a. Dr. Rob
0
0
[nq:1]I'm looking for a lead on that strange, jokey pseudo-language that was invented by some Englishman (I think), many years ... into his own kind of jokey language that was just about intelligible. For example, the word "Christmas" might become "Chrimbly-mould".[/nq]
Sounds like Stanley Unwin. Check archives of
the BBC in its first 10 or 20 years.

Don Phillipson
Carlsbad Sp
0
0
[nq:1]Yes, I have come accross 'pig-Latin' and similar pseudo-languages. The one I am looking for however, is, I think, different ... that he'd tag onto the ends of suitable words, but that's probably about the only recurring device he used, IIRC.[/nq]
It sounds like "double-talk." From the entry for that word in the *Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary* at www.m-w.com :

"*1 :* language
0
0
[nq:2]I'm looking for a lead on that strange, jokey pseudo-language ... "language", if one exists. Otherwise, any online examples of it...[/nq]
[nq:1]Many performers have included that type of thing in their act. Professor Irwin Corey comes to mind as does Durwood Fincher, a.k.a. Dr. Robert Payne. Sid Caesar, Danny Kaye and Pat Paulson included it their routines. My favorite was Lord Buckley r
0
0
(Email Removed) typed thusly:
[nq:2]I'm looking for a lead on that strange, jokey pseudo-language ... about intelligible. For example, the word "Christmas" might become "Chrimbly-mould".[/nq]
[nq:1]Sounds like Stanley Unwin. Check archives of the BBC in its first 10 or 20 years.[/nq]
Definitely Stanley Unwin, who died only a couple of years ago, aged
90.
0
0
[nq:1]I'm looking for a lead on that strange, jokey pseudo-language that was invented by some Englishman (I think), many years ... Ideally, I'd like to find an online dictionary of that "language", if one exists. Otherwise, any online examples of it...[/nq]
As Don Phillipson suggests, you are describing "Professor" Stanley Unwin.
Matti
0
0
[nq:2]I'm looking for a lead on that strange, jokey pseudo-language ... "language", if one exists. Otherwise, any online examples of it...[/nq]
[nq:1]As Don Phillipson suggests, you are describing "Professor" Stanley Unwin.[/nq]
And I intended to suggest that you visit
www.stanleyunwin.com
Matti
0
0
[nq:1]I'm looking for a lead on that strange, jokey pseudo-language that was invented by some Englishman (I think), many years ... Ideally, I'd like to find an online dictionary of that "language", if one exists. Otherwise, any online examples of it...[/nq]
'Professor' Stanley Unwin.
'Professor' Mike Lyle has the words, memory and style.

wrmst rgrds
Robin Bignall
Hertfords
0

Related Questions