Avast!

Unlike many of ye scoundrels. me and the lads have been a'celebrating "Talk Like A Pirate Day" for three years now.  But what do I gain from it?

Hard to tell.  But this day celebrates one of my favorite characters and seems intent on teaching the language of the "traditional" pirate, not the more celebrated pirates with British accents and gentlemanly ways.

Worst pirate accents?  A list will follow, but my heart belongs to the one and only "real" pirate from Disney's Treasure Island - none other than Long John Silver,  He could drop his H's (remember Jim "Awkins?) like a limey without sounding pretentious or sophisticated.

Now for a few so-so and nasty pirate accents from the movies:

1. Jack Sparrow- sorry ladies, but the slurred drunken speech is probably accurate, but he has more the mannerisms of a circus carnie than a true pirate.
2. Dread Pirate Roberts- cool accent for the movie Princess Bride - and easier to understand, but the runt never had a cutlass nor a blunderbuss.  Didn't he cry for his Mommy when tortured?
3. Errol Flynn - Captain Black.  Can we say "finishing school?"
4. Captain Hook - Mr Mumbles with a prosthetic hand.  Intimidating as a bag of marshmallows.
5. Jean LaFitte- The Buccaneer.  Yul Brynner was very cad-like, but he even helped Andrew Jackson win the Battle of New Orleans during the second War of Independence - the War of 1812.  Bah!
6. Sinbad the Sailor- Douglas Fairbanks.  Scary in a "don't make me come up there" kind of way.  Great athlete, however.
7. The Crimson Pirate - Burt Lancaster.  Can't obey a skipper who smiles like a toothpaste commercial.  Boo!
8. Pirate Movie - Gena Davisis the baddie.  Considered one of seafaring's worst movies.  Davey Jones is rolling over in his watery grave.
9. Captain Feathersword of the Wiggles - scarier than the above lot as he dances AND tickles.  A multi-tasker if there ever was one.
10. The Pirates of Penzance - well, this wasn't meant to be terrifying, but Kevin Kline and his band sure had a way with the colonial ladies, and any pirate alive (or dead) would have to respect that.

That's it - I'm at a loss for more.  Throw me a few of yours and we'll compare - have a "hearty" day