This content has been automatically translated from Ukrainian.
Pig Latin (eng. Pig Latin) — is a playful language system invented by native English speakers. It cannot be called a real language —, rather it is a humorous «cipher», which is often used by children to speak in such a way that adults or outsiders do not understand the meaning.
The principle is very simple: an English word is taken and its initial consonant (or consonant cluster) is carried to the end, after which the ending is added -ay. For example, a word dog («sobaka») turns into ogday, school <TAG1> on oolschay, a cat <TAG1> on atcay. If the word begins with a vowel, then it is simply added to it -yay or -way: apple <TAG1> appleway.
Although «pig latina» sounds like it has ancient roots, its history is not so ancient. The name was first recorded in the USA at the end of the 19th century, although similar games with words existed before. It gained popularity in the 20th century thanks to cinema, television and cartoons. For example, Looney Tunes characters or children's show characters often «spoke pig Latin for humorous effect.
Despite its simplicity, the system has certain rules and even its own «dialects». In different regions of the English-speaking world, different endings are added, or the order of sounds is changed in its own way.
Today, pig latina — is not only children's fun, but also a cultural phenomenon. It is used in movies, songs and even in codes for humorous encryption of messages. This is an example of how language can become a — game and how language play can live for decades.
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