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DAH is me, David Anthony Hance. Not a pirate king.

First up this week: Arrr … 
Sometimes a body (this body, certainly) thinks about pirates. And I wonder. Today I wondered why pirates always say "Arrr." It sort of means "yes" in piratic. And it didn't take much wondering and online research to reveal that "Arrr" hasn't always been. According to Slate.com: "The pirate phrase “Arrrgh” appeared in film as early as 1934; a character also uses the phrase in a 1940 novel by Jeffrey Farnol. But the phrase and accent were popularized by Robert Newton, the actor who played Long John Silver in the movies and on TV through much of the 1950s". So, what did pirates say before the 20th Century? More wondering required.
 
Second up this week, Argh …
I suppose that if "Arrr" has its roots in "Argh" it must express frustration or anguish, not just "yes." Perhaps pirates didn't want to say "aye" or "yes" without also expressing outrage at positivity. My pals at Merriam-Webster define the interjection (vs the adjective) "argh" or "aargh" this way: "used typically to express frustration, disappointment, anguish, or pain." First noted usage around 1800, which is after the usually-specified Golden Age of piracy (mid-1600s to mid-1700s). I'm feeling rather disillusioned. If pirates didn't really say "arrr" or "argh" what did they say? Or perhaps we just invented the stereotypes to amuse modern youth. I've been deceived.

Third up this week, Areal …
My Brit-thinking, Cali-living upbringing left me with a Caribbean areal for piracy. Yes, I know, pirates were (are) active in many parts of the world. Areal? You thought that was a typo? No. Just an adjective version of the noun "area." Embarrassingly, I didn't know that until long after my formal schooling ended. I used the noun version in every situation. I feel I've been pirating grammar for years and years. And in a stereotypical way, since I know I'm not alone in behaving as if there were no adjective areal. I'm just a fake pirate, which is all I ever was. Plastic sword and no ship. Aargh.

Michael Crichton without dinosaurs …
Pirate Latitudes,
by Michael Crichton 
"Crichton’s ultimate adventure" (San Francisco Chronicle)
A posthumously discovered work. I'm just starting this book (chapter 3). Hoping for a full-dose of piratic daring-do! I'm liking the 17th Century Caribbean-areal setting so far.

And a bit more: 

Sea-Fever,
by John Masefield

I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky,
And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by;
And the wheel’s kick and the wind’s song and the white sail’s shaking,
And a grey mist on the sea’s face, and a grey dawn breaking.
 
I must go down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide
Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied;
And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying,
And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the sea-gulls crying.
 
I must go down to the seas again, to the vagrant gypsy life,
To the gull’s way and the whale’s way where the wind’s like a whetted knife;
And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover,
And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick’s over.


And that's all for this week.
From Mary Oliver's Sometimes

Instructions for living a life:
Pay attention.
Be astonished.
Tell about it.