Avast! It’s coming up on my favorite time of year, me hearties! The weather’s fine for sailing, the lads have started their yearly duels for football and hockey dominance, and every sea dog worth his salt is counting down to the greatest holiday of all time. The 19th of September, Sunday next, is International Talk Like a Pirate Day.
This noble tradition started almost ten years ago when “the pirate guys” (John Baur and Mark Summers) randomly fell into piratic lingo whilst playing a friendly round o’ racquetball. The tradition continued sporadically until early 2002, when a chance encounter led the pair to pressgang Dave Barry, humor columnist, into being the official spokesperson for ITLAPD.
With Cap’n Barry’s support, the idea spread like the plague and every bilge rat with the ability to utter an “Arrr!” came on board. Now ITLAPD is celebrated across the United States as well as being a prominent celebration in Britain and Australia. Casting a net across Google for “International Talk Like a Pirate Day” reels in over 9,000 hits.
The timely release of Pirates of the Caribbean in 2003 brought pirate lore into the mainstream. With the help of a slightly ‘swishy’ Johnny Depp, pirates have become much more than scurvy mates in the eyes of modern culture. Any whelp with some spare doubloons can easily discover the Jolly Roger emblazoned on everything from clothing to postcards.
Here at the Institute, students in Professor Persans’ theoretical physics class were treated to a pirate-themed quiz as part of last year’s festivities. The hallmarks of ITLAPD are bad puns based around the letter “R,” general rowdiness, drunken swaggering, and occasional brawling. The main idea is to have some fun with it!
How do you get involved in ITLAPD? That’s easier than stealing booty from a brigand. Just throw in a few choice phrases and spread the word. It should be noted that this is not International Dress Like a Pirate Day. No bandanas or eyepatches are necessary, though they may help you get into the mood. To participate in this year’s ITLAPD weekend, simply be sure you know the 5 A’s of pirate-speak:
Ahoy! - to be used to greet one’s mates.
Avast! - stop and pay attention.
Aye! - “yes,” or “understood.”
Aye aye! - to acknowledge orders received and your willingness to obey them.
Arrr! - the most important A, to be used liberally in any conversation, for any reason.
Look elsewhere on this page for some web resources to help you get started. When in doubt, head over to the official ITLAPD site, http://talklikeapirate.com and wade through their sea of links.
Remember, a pirate doesn’t take no for an answer. The arrogant authority and egotistical sheen coating your sentences are essential aspects of the general atmosphere of Talk Like a Pirate Day.
Above all, don’t be a scupperin’ landlubber and indulge in some piratey parlance this Sunday. Have a pirate-themed party (with lots o’ grog for those of age), and fall into a few friendly duels. There be no better time to break out in random bouts of swordfighting, and after all—this is ARRRRRRRPI!
