‘AHOY, MATEY!’ The Origin of Pirate Talk Talk Like a Pirate Day on Sept. 19 has been a favorite silly holiday since it was created in 1995. But while it’s an opportunity for vloggers, radio hosts, and everyday people alike to let loose with a few hearty shouts of “arrrr,” the holiday certainly raises a couple of questions …
Did pirates really talk like that? And why do we think they do?
The truth is that nobody really knows what a typical Caribbean pirate sounded like. Historian Colin Woodard, author of “The Republic of Pirates: Being the True and Surprising Story of the Caribbean Pirates and the Man Who Brought Them Down,” told National Geographic, “There isn’t much in the way of scientific evidence in regards to pirate speech.” No audio recordings of pirate speech exist, and most witnesses have only written down small sets of quotes from pirates. Pirates didn’t really write, either. There’s “almost nothing written by pirates themselves, with the exception of educated people who ‘went pirate’ and, therefore, probably didn’t exhibit pirate speech patterns,” Woodard said. Our best guess? Many scholars suspect that English-speaking Golden Age pirates must have spoken exactly the same as English-speaking merchant sailors of the time. After all, large numbers in both groups tended to be from riverfront neighborhoods around London. How Disney Started It All Modern “pirate speak” can actually be traced back to a single movie: the live-action Disney movie of the 1950s, “Treasure Island,”
Have You Tried These Repair Hacks? Sometimes it’s impossible to prevent a car crash. In the situation Michael described on the cover of this newsletter, his brother could do little more than pray he’d survive the 18-wheeler bearing down on him. However, some collisions can be prevented — and one way to protect yourself is by keeping your car in good shape. You probably already know the basics, like getting your oil changed every 5,000–10,000 miles (depending on your driving habits and the age of your car) and having your tires rotated every 5,000– 8,000 miles. But have you tried these three hacks? 1. Clean your headlights with toothpaste. Are your plastic headlight covers dirty and fogged up? If so, they could make your car less visible at night and set you up for a crash. To protect yourself, wash and dry your headlights with water, then cover the plastic surface with a thin layer of toothpaste and scrub it clean with a microfiber cloth. This will wipe away embedded dirt and chemical residue. 2. Seal windshield cracks with nail polish. Over time, small windshield cracks can spread and widen, impacting your visibility on the road. To prevent that, you can use a windshield repair kit, super glue, or (in a pinch) clear nail polish. Simply coat the crack with a thick layer of polish to keep it from growing. 3. Do a DIY wiper replacement. When you take your car in for an oil change, the company may offer to replace your worn-out windshield wipers, too — for a price. You can save a few bucks by doing the work yourself. Simply check your car’s manual for the type of blades you need, snag them from your local auto parts store, and follow the “How to Check and Change Wiper Blades” instructions on AutoZone’s website at AutoZone.com/ diy/wipers. This could save your life on a rainy day! Using these tips will help you stay safe on the road. If you or someone you love is in a car crash that couldn’t be prevented, call our team for help at 210-756-5399. 3 TRICKS EVERY CAR OWNER SHOULD KNOW
starring Robert Newton as fictional pirate Long John Silver. Woodard explained,
“Newton’s performance — full of ‘arrs,’ ‘shiver me timbers,’ and references to ‘landlubbers’ — not only stole the show, but it also permanently shaped pop culture’s vision of
how pirates looked, acted, and spoke.”
After that movie, “Newtonesque” pirates were seen everywhere, from Captain Hook to Captain McCallister of “The Simpsons.” Still, there is a little truth in some pirate
phrases. Not unlike the Canadian “eh,” “arr” was an affirmation in the English West Country during the early 20th century. Some phrases, such as “me hearties,” were simply universal 18th-century nautical terms. Although “pirate speak” today is mostly Hollywood magic, it’s still fun! Give it a try this September, and we’re sure it’ll make you smile — even if the true pirate dialect is much more mysterious.
2 PACKARDFIRM.COM
Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator