Ubbi dubbi is a
language game
A language game (also called a cant, secret language, ludling, or argot) is a system of manipulating spoken words to render them incomprehensible to an untrained listener. Language games are used primarily by groups attempting to conceal their c ...
spoken with the English language. Originating in America in the 17th century, it was popularized by the 1972–1978
PBS
The Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) is an American public broadcasting, public broadcaster and Non-commercial activity, non-commercial, Terrestrial television, free-to-air television network based in Arlington, Virginia. PBS is a publicly fu ...
children's show ''
Zoom
Zoom may refer to:
Technology Computing
* Zoom (software), videoconferencing application
* Page zooming, the ability to magnify or shrink a portion of a page on a computer display
* Zooming user interface, a graphical interface allowing for image ...
''. When ''Zoom'' was
revived in 1999 on PBS, Ubbi dubbi was again a feature of the show. Variations of Ubbi Dubbi include Obbish, Ob, Ib, Arpy Darpy, and
Iz.
Rules
Ubbi dubbi works by adding ''-ub-'' before each vowel sound in a syllable
(or, as a linguist might put it, "insert
ˆÊŒbafter each syllable onset").
The stress falls on the "ub" of the syllable that is stressed in the original word. In the word "hello" for example, which is stressed on the "-lo" syllable, the stress falls on the "lub" in "hubellubo".
The method of adding "ub" before each vowel sound has been described as "iterative
infixation
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 ...
".
Examples
* Good day → "Gubood dubay"
* Speak → "spubeak"
* Hello → "hubellubo"
* Extra → "ubextruba"
*
Hubba Bubba
Hubba Bubba is a brand of bubble gum produced by Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company, a subsidiary of Mars, Incorporated. Introduced in the United States in 1979, the bubble gum got its name from the phrase "Hubba Hubba", which some military personnel in W ...
bubblegum → "Hububbuba Bububbuba bubububblegubum"
* Mississippi → "Mubissubissubippubi"
* Ubbi Dubbi → "Ububbubi Dububbubi"
* Zoom → "Zuboom"
* Subaru → "Subububarubu"
* "Hi, how are you?" → "Hubi, hubow ubare yubou?"
* "We need to get to Plantation Road on time." → "Wube nubeed tuboo gubet tuboo Plubantubashubon Ruboad ubon tubime."
* "
All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood." → "Uball hubumuban bubeubings ubare buborn frubee uband ubeq-wub-al ubin dubignubituby uband rubights. Thubey ubare ubendubowed wubith rubeasubon uband cubonscubience uband shubould ubact tubowubards "w-ub-on" ubanubothuber ubin uba spubirubit ubof brubothuberhubood."
Uses
Ubbi Dubbi has also been popularized as the signature speech pattern of the cartoon character Mushmouth from the animated series ''
Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids
''Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids'' is an American animated television series created, produced, and hosted (in live action bookends) by comedian Bill Cosby, who also lent his voice to a number of characters, including Fat Albert and himself. Film ...
'', voiced by
Bill Cosby
William Henry Cosby Jr. ( ; born July 12, 1937) is an American stand-up comedian, actor, and media personality. He made significant contributions to American and African-American culture, and is well known in the United States for his eccentric ...
. Cosby also used this speech variation in his famous "Dentist" monologue to illustrate the effects of a dose of Novocaine.
It was used in the episode "Mentalo Case" from the TV series ''
The King Of Queens
''The King of Queens'' is an American television sitcom that ran on CBS from September 21, 1998, to May 14, 2007, a total of nine seasons and 207 episodes. The series was created by Michael J. Weithorn and David Litt, who also served as the show ...
'', between character Spence Olchin (
Patton Oswalt
Patton Peter Oswalt (born January 27, 1969) is an American stand-up comedian, actor and writer. He is known as Spence Olchin in the sitcom ''The King of Queens'' (1998–2007) and for narrating the sitcom '' The Goldbergs'' (2013–present) as ...
) and a salesman at a toy convention.
It was also used between Penny and Amy in season 10 episode 7 of ''
The Big Bang Theory
''The Big Bang Theory'' is an American television sitcom created by Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady, both of whom served as executive producers on the series, along with Steven Molaro, all of whom also served as head writers. It premiered on CBS ...
'' as a means of having a secret conversation, to counter Sheldon and Leonard's use of
Klingon
The Klingons ( ; Klingon: ''tlhIngan'' ) are a fictional species in the science fiction franchise ''Star Trek''.
Developed by screenwriter Gene L. Coon in 1967 for the original ''Star Trek'' (''TOS'') series, Klingons were swarthy humanoids c ...
.
In the video game ''
Rayman Origins
''Rayman Origins'' is a 2011 platform video game developed and published by Ubisoft. It is the fourth main installment in the ''Rayman'' series and the first main installment since '' Rayman 3: Hoodlum Havoc'' (2003). The game was released for ...
'', the Bubble Dreamer speaks Ubbi Dubbi.
See also
*