
Some Holiday—Talk Like a Pirate Day: Arrr, Accents & the Truth About Pirates
Episode notes
Arrr, mateys! Nick and Brett celebrate Talk Like a Pirate Day with an aggressively committed pirate voice, questionable vocal endurance, and a historical adventure that nearly sinks before it even leaves the harbor. After reflecting on a disastrous first recording attempt, the hosts investigate why fictional pirates sound the way they do—and why apparently every pirate must pronounce their R’s like they’re trying to intimidate the English language itself.
The episode explores the connection between western British ports, rhotic West Country accents, and Robert Newton’s legendary performance as Long John Silver. His portrayal helped establish the familiar pirate voice that continues to dominate pop culture. From there, a discussion of Minecraft’s Pirate Speak setting leads into Anglish, an imagined version of English with far less influence ...