Pig latin and non-native English speakers

[kranky]

Yesterday at lunch we were debating whether non-native English speakers can understand Pig latin or (as half the table claimed) they don't understand it.

The backstory: A co-worker stopped for a snack last weekend in a rural convenience store. He was waiting in line to pay and there was a foreigner in front of him ready to pay for a few items, speaking in broken English. The manager-type walked over to the clerk handling the foreigner and my co-worker claims the manager muttered "ump bay I spray" to the clerk.

The co-worker gets his turn, pays and heads back out on the road. He's wondering what that odd expression meant and then realizes it was Pig latin for "bump price" - and thinks the manager told the clerk to charge the foreigner more assuming the foreigner wouldn't understand what was being said.

Weird, but we agreed it could be possible that they could intentionally try to cheat foreigners. A lot of non-English speakers have moved into that area working for oil drillers.

Back on topic... With Pig latin, people who always spoke English seem to intuitively get it. My position was that if you speak English decently you can recognize and understand it. Others claimed if you're not a native English speaker, then Pig latin mostly sounds like a completely different language except for long words that sound 90% the same in Pig latin, (for example, "construction").

Interested to know what people who learned English as a second language think about recognizing and understanding Pig latin.

 

[Rakehellion]

The whole purpose of Pig Latin is to be difficult to understand.

 

[Perknose]

The whole purpose of Pig Latin is to be difficult to understand.

And you do need to know true English well to even have a fighting chance of understanding it.

I, myself, am fluent in Pig Latin, and, of course, Jive.

 

[kranky]

Evening bump.

 

[CZroe]

The thing that makes me doubt he said that was that you and your coworker were there to witness it.

 

[biostud]

First time I've heard about pig Latin. What is it?

 

[Printer Bandit]

http://m.wikihow.com/Speak-Pig-Latin

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

First time I've heard about pig Latin. What is it?

It's slang. Igpay atinlay. You have to live in a language to understand the cultural and slang references. Pig Latin is the easiest. You just remove the first letter and tack it on behind with the addition of "ay."

 

[CZroe]

It's slang. Igpay atinlay. You have to live in a language to understand the cultural and slang references. Pig Latin is the easiest. You just remove the first letter and tack it on behind with the addition of "ay."

Unless it is one syllable (leave alone or add aye at the end) or the first syllable is "aye" (move to the end).

Most non-native English speakers have probably heard this one in American movies:
"Ix Nay the 'Upid Stay!' "
Nix the "Stupid!"
It's usually when one character realizes something after it's too late to stop another character (who doesn't yet realize) from offending a third character without that third character noticing the first character's involvement.

Pretty sure it was in many comedies and kids' movies.

 

[brianmanahan]

Most non-native English speakers have probably heard this one in Hollywood movies:
"Ix Nay the 'Upid Stay!' "

you win the thread for lion king reference :awe:

 

[CZroe]

you win the thread for lion king reference :awe:

Hey! Who you callin' "upid-stay?!"

 

[MongGrel]

First time I've heard about pig Latin. What is it?

Something kids used to use in the 60's, probably before that.

Was pretty much silly then even.

It would through someone who isn't familiar with English that well to begin with of course.

 

[kranky]

Pig latin is pretty old (documented in the 1700's) and other languages have similar variants like Pig latin.

Still hoping for some non-native English speakers to clue us in on whether they can
understand spoken pig latin.

 

[GreenGhost]

English is my second language, and I can't understand it.

Perhaps I never practiced it as a kid; perhaps it has to do with how the brain deals with languages. Foreign languages are processed in a different part of the brain that is not as specialized. That's why people keep their accents, or people with brain injuries or development problems struggle forever. It's the same when dealing with numbers and mental calculations. It's usually faster and safer to do it in your native language (like reading numbers and typing them into Excel, or simple memorized calculations like 8 X 7 = ?).

Crossword puzzles, to me, are also much harder in non-native languages. The answer is obvious and familiar when you see the solution, but the brain can't find the words.

 

[kranky]

Thx for the insight, GreenGhost. That was interesting.