Gibberish
Encyclopedia : G : GI : GIB : Gibberish
- Not to be confused with Jibberish.
Gibberish language game
"Gibberish" is also used to refer to a group of similar language games. In general, these all work by adding a code syllable after the onset. For example, in Ubbi Dubbi, the code syllable is -ub-, and "How are you?" would be said as Hubow ubare yubou? Such language games in the Gibberish family are not unique to English-speaking countries, for example there is one spoken in Sweden called Allspråket and one in Germany called Löffelchen-Sprache. Another version of it is used in Hungary, called "Madárnyelv" (Bird's language), and adds "Vv" or "Vrg" before the syllables, where "V" is the vowel of the syllable. There is also one in Spanish, spoken in Latin America, called "jeringonza" where one adds pX after every vowel in a syllable (where X is that vowel), for example "Hola mundo" would become "Hopolapa Mupundopo".
In the United Kingdom, gibberish follows a similar pattern to most, but is ultimately different. For example "How are you?" would be said as "Haragow aragar yoragou?"
There's also the language of gibberish. You add two syllables for every one. Take this sentence "you are crazy". It is based off D's and G's. So, it would be "yoo_da_goo arr_da_garr kray_da_gay_zee_da_gee". (Just sound it out.)
Origin of the term
There are a couple of possible theories of origin for the term "gibberish". One says that the basis is in the old word "gibber" which is allied to "jabber". However, "gibberish" was in use before the word "gibber", therefore making this a dubious theory. A better explanation says the word comes from Geber, the name of an Arabian alchemist in the 11th century. He invented a strange terminology so that his works could not be understood by others; more importantly, he could not be accused of heresy, which was punishable by death. "Gibberish" in its modern sense was certainly used by 1811.
Despite the intelligent purpose behind the creation of the term, "gibberish" today is used as a derogatory term to suggest something has no merit or makes no sense (e.g. "that's a lot of gibberish") rather than the (supposedly) more accurate use, which would be akin to "that sounds like a lot of encrypted information," which is rarely used. Common usage dictates that gibberish means unintelligent, meaningless, uninformed, or worse, when in fact, the opposite is true.
See also
External links
Other meanings.
- [Gibberish, a Dutch band that fuses all sorts of musical styles], thus being alternative.
- And a Norwegian [band] from Sykkylven has also taken the same name], primarily rock-oriented.
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