Grammelot
Encyclopedia
Grammelot is a term for a style of language in satirical theatre, a gibberish
with macaronic
and onomatopoeic elements, used in association with pantomime
and mimicry.
The format dates back to the 16th century Commedia dell'arte
, and some claim Grammelot to be a specific universal language (akin to Lingua franca
) devised to give performers safety from censorship and appeal whatever the dialect
of the audience.
While the historical origin of the term is unclear, it has been particularly popularized by the Nobel
-winning Italian playwright
Dario Fo
. His satirical touring show Mistero Buffo ("Comic Mystery Play") involved sketches based on mediaeval sources, told in Fo's own grammelots constructed from archaic Po Valley
dialects and phoneme
s from modern languages (he has coined separate Italian, French and American grammelots). In his Nobel lecture, Fo referred to the 16th century Italian playwright Ruzzante
's invention of a similar language based on Italian dialects, Latin, Spanish, German and onomatopoeic sounds.
Another notable modern Italian exponent is the Milan
actor/writer Gianni Ferrario. Mainstream comics
have also used Grammelot-like language: for instance, Stanley Unwin
.
The Canadian circus
and entertainment troupe Cirque du Soleil
uses in its routines similar forms of language it terms Cirquish.
In an essay entitled “L’art du grommelot” (Le Figaro, April 20, 2006), French scholar Claude Duneton suggests the word (not the technique) – in its French form, grommelot – has its origins in the Commedia dell’arte-derived French theatre of the early part of the twentieth century. Duneton studied briefly with Léon Chancerel (1886–1965), who was a major figure in this branch of theatre. Chancerel in fact uses the word in his book, Le théatre et la jeunesse (Paris: Bourrellier 1946:47). Others, such as theatre scholar John Rudlin in Commedia dell'arte: An Actor's Handbook (London: Routeledge 1994:60), suggest this origin as well.
Gibberish
Gibberish is a generic term in English for talking that sounds like speech, but carries no actual meaning. This meaning has also been extended to meaningless text or gobbledygook. The common theme in gibberish statements is a lack of literal sense, which can be described as a presence of nonsense...
with macaronic
Macaronic language
Macaronic refers to text spoken or written using a mixture of languages, sometimes including bilingual puns, particularly when the languages are used in the same context . The term is also sometimes used to denote hybrid words, which are in effect internally macaronic...
and onomatopoeic elements, used in association with pantomime
Pantomime
Pantomime — not to be confused with a mime artist, a theatrical performer of mime—is a musical-comedy theatrical production traditionally found in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Jamaica, South Africa, India, Ireland, Gibraltar and Malta, and is mostly performed during the...
and mimicry.
The format dates back to the 16th century Commedia dell'arte
Commedia dell'arte
Commedia dell'arte is a form of theatre characterized by masked "types" which began in Italy in the 16th century, and was responsible for the advent of the actress and improvised performances based on sketches or scenarios. The closest translation of the name is "comedy of craft"; it is shortened...
, and some claim Grammelot to be a specific universal language (akin to Lingua franca
Lingua franca
A lingua franca is a language systematically used to make communication possible between people not sharing a mother tongue, in particular when it is a third language, distinct from both mother tongues.-Characteristics:"Lingua franca" is a functionally defined term, independent of the linguistic...
) devised to give performers safety from censorship and appeal whatever the dialect
Dialect
The term dialect is used in two distinct ways, even by linguists. One usage refers to a variety of a language that is a characteristic of a particular group of the language's speakers. The term is applied most often to regional speech patterns, but a dialect may also be defined by other factors,...
of the audience.
While the historical origin of the term is unclear, it has been particularly popularized by the Nobel
Nobel Prize
The Nobel Prizes are annual international awards bestowed by Scandinavian committees in recognition of cultural and scientific advances. The will of the Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite, established the prizes in 1895...
-winning Italian playwright
Playwright
A playwright, also called a dramatist, is a person who writes plays.The term is not a variant spelling of "playwrite", but something quite distinct: the word wright is an archaic English term for a craftsman or builder...
Dario Fo
Dario Fo
Dario Fo is an Italian satirist, playwright, theater director, actor and composer. His dramatic work employs comedic methods of the ancient Italian commedia dell'arte, a theatrical style popular with the working classes. He currently owns and operates a theatre company with his wife, actress...
. His satirical touring show Mistero Buffo ("Comic Mystery Play") involved sketches based on mediaeval sources, told in Fo's own grammelots constructed from archaic Po Valley
Po Valley
The Po Valley, Po Plain, Plain of the Po, or Padan Plain is a major geographical feature of Italy. It extends approximately in an east-west direction, with an area of 46,000 km² including its Venetic extension not actually related to the Po River basin; it runs from the Western Alps to the...
dialects and phoneme
Phoneme
In a language or dialect, a phoneme is the smallest segmental unit of sound employed to form meaningful contrasts between utterances....
s from modern languages (he has coined separate Italian, French and American grammelots). In his Nobel lecture, Fo referred to the 16th century Italian playwright Ruzzante
Angelo Beolco
Angelo Beolco , better known by the nickname Il Ruzzante or el Ruzante, was a Venetian actor and playwright.He is known by his rustic comedies in the Venetian language of Padua, featuring a peasant called "Ruzzante"...
's invention of a similar language based on Italian dialects, Latin, Spanish, German and onomatopoeic sounds.
Another notable modern Italian exponent is the Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
actor/writer Gianni Ferrario. Mainstream comics
Comedian
A comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience, primarily by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, or acting a fool, as in slapstick, or employing prop comedy...
have also used Grammelot-like language: for instance, Stanley Unwin
Stanley Unwin (comedian)
Stanley Unwin , sometimes billed as Professor Stanley Unwin, was a British comedian and comic writer, and the inventor of his own language, "Unwinese", referred to in the film Carry On Regardless as "gobbledegook".Unwinese was a mangled form of English in which many of the...
.
The Canadian circus
Circus
A circus is commonly a travelling company of performers that may include clowns, acrobats, trained animals, trapeze acts, musicians, hoopers, tightrope walkers, jugglers, unicyclists and other stunt-oriented artists...
and entertainment troupe Cirque du Soleil
Cirque du Soleil
Cirque du Soleil , is a Canadian entertainment company, self-described as a "dramatic mix of circus arts and street entertainment." Based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and located in the inner-city area of Saint-Michel, it was founded in Baie-Saint-Paul in 1984 by two former street performers, Guy...
uses in its routines similar forms of language it terms Cirquish.
In an essay entitled “L’art du grommelot” (Le Figaro, April 20, 2006), French scholar Claude Duneton suggests the word (not the technique) – in its French form, grommelot – has its origins in the Commedia dell’arte-derived French theatre of the early part of the twentieth century. Duneton studied briefly with Léon Chancerel (1886–1965), who was a major figure in this branch of theatre. Chancerel in fact uses the word in his book, Le théatre et la jeunesse (Paris: Bourrellier 1946:47). Others, such as theatre scholar John Rudlin in Commedia dell'arte: An Actor's Handbook (London: Routeledge 1994:60), suggest this origin as well.