Comments on: How to Describe Gibberish

By: ATP

ATP — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 02:24:56 +0000

I enjoy speaking in Non-Sequiter. It’s a language that uses nonsense, usually to entertain or annoy others.

Example:

Teacher: Okay class, what’s two plus two?
Me: Fish!

By: Eve Logan

Eve Logan — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 01:16:06 +0000

How about “Jibber Jabber”, is this another imitative word?

By: Laura

Laura — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 15:31:17 +0000

What a great list!

It’s amazing how many of these I’ve seen in the historical romances I love to read.

Personally, I’m partial to the term “hooey” (which isn’t on the list above). Usage: bunch of hooey, load of hooey. It’s always related to some tale that that someone heard someone else telling.

Another one I like is “cock and bull tale”. My mom uses this one a lot, e.g. “what kind of cock and bull tale did he come up with this time??” in reference to a contractor that wasn’t reimbursing her for work he did NOT do.

Thanks for a great list, Maeve. Keep up the good work! :c)

By: Alexandre Piccolo

Alexandre Piccolo — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 12:58:51 +0000

I would not be unreasonable to remember that the adjective “barbarous” came from a greek word (actualy, a greek onomatopy) that described the “bar-bar-bar” made by non-greek-speakers, whose languages the greeks didn’t understand.

By: Jim

Jim — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 12:52:26 +0000

All references using the word Dutch have their roots in history of tensions between the Dutch and the English as far back as sea battles with cannon balls and perhaps even further.
It’s an insult to use another culture in what looks like an acceptable expression:
Dutch uncle: providing unrequested advice
Going Dutch: being cheap, not giving anything away
Dutch courage: daring to say/do more under the influence of alcohol.

Just to name a few…
Jim