Avast, ye mateys! Did you know that September 19th is International Talk Like a Pirate Day? Arrrr, it's true! We've got some suggestions for sounding properly piratical.
First, check out the official website for the holiday. Ever wonder why the arrr sound is associated with pirates? Read Erin McKean's Boston Globe column to learn how the signature sound filtered through England's West Country and Hollywood depictions of pirates.
Next, check out the Saturday Night Live sketch "Pirates Convention" with Peter Sarsgaard:
(If you're unable to see the video, you can access the transcript here.)
Then check out our arrr-ful list of piratical vocabulary: "Card Sharp, Argy-bargy, Arctic Char and Other Words Pirates Might Like to Say."
Finally, you can read our own Ben Zimmer riffing on the arrr sound here and on pirate history here.
