Javanais () is a type of French

slang Slang is vocabulary (words, phrases, and linguistic usages) of an informal register, common in spoken conversation but avoided in formal writing. It also sometimes refers to the language generally exclusive to the members of particular in-gro ...

where the extra

syllable A syllable is a unit of organization for a sequence of speech sounds typically made up of a syllable nucleus (most often a vowel) with optional initial and final margins (typically, consonants). Syllables are often considered the phonological "bu ...

infix An infix is an affix inserted inside a word stem (an existing word or the core of a family of words). It contrasts with ''adfix,'' a rare term for an affix attached to the outside of a stem, such as a prefix or suffix. When marking text for int ...

ed inside a word after every consonant that is followed by a vowel, in order to render it incomprehensible. Some common examples are ''gros'' (, "fat") which becomes ''gravos'' (); ''bonjour'' (, "hello"'), which becomes ''bavonjavour'' (); and ''pénible'' (, "annoying"), becomes ''pavénaviblave'' (). ''Paris'' () becomes ''Pavaravis'' (). Javanais is determined by the production rule: ''CV → CavV''. There are also many variations that can be made upon the same pattern such as: ''CabV, CalV, CanV'', etc. In French the word ''Javanais'' is also used to refer to the

Javanese language Javanese (, , ; , Aksara Jawa: , Pegon: , IPA: ) is a Malayo-Polynesian language spoken by the Javanese people from the central and eastern parts of the island of Java, Indonesia. There are also pockets of Javanese speakers on the northe ...

. Around 1957,

Boris Vian Boris Vian (; 10 March 1920 – 23 June 1959) was a French polymath: writer, poet, musician, singer, translator, critic, actor, inventor and engineer who is primarily remembered for his novels. Those published under the pseudonym Vernon Sulliva ...

wrote a song ''La Java Javanaise''. The lyrics are a didactical method to learn the javanais. Each verse is firstly articulated in regular French, then translated in slang. As the title suggests, the song is a

Java Java (; id, Jawa, ; jv, ꦗꦮ; su, ) is one of the Greater Sunda Islands in Indonesia. It is bordered by the Indian Ocean to the south and the Java Sea to the north. With a population of 151.6 million people, Java is the world's List ...

, a Parisian

dance craze ''Dance Craze'' is a 1981 American documentary film about the British 2 Tone music genre. The film was directed by Joe Massot, who originally wanted to do a film only about the band Madness, whom he met during their first US tour. Massot lat ...

. In 1962,

Serge Gainsbourg Serge Gainsbourg (; born Lucien Ginsburg; 2 April 1928 – 2 March 1991) was a French musician, singer-songwriter, actor, author and filmmaker. Regarded as one of the most important figures in French pop, he was renowned for often provoca ...

wrote and sang a song called ''

La Javanaise "La Javanaise" is a song written and composed by Serge Gainsbourg originally for Juliette Gréco, and interpreted by both her and Serge Gainsbourg in 1963. The first recordings of both artists constituted the B-sides of each of the two 45s. Rec ...

'', a pun playing on Javanese dancing and the javanais style of speaking. The song heavily employs unaltered French words that naturally have an sequence; thus the lyrics resemble the word game of javanais. It's also possible to substitute other sounds in place of av, at and ab being the most popular. It works well in English as well as French. For example, the sentence: Today I decided to order some nice chocolates. Could be: Tabodabay abi dabecabidabed tabo abordaber sabome chabocabolabates. The language is best spoken very fast to throw off listeners and care must be used when answering simple questions with yes/no. It's usually best to come up with code words for yes/no such that those listening cannot catch on to the trick.

References

{{Reflist Cant languages French slang Language games

See also

References