School of Communication

Bilingualism and Psycholinguistics Research Laboratory

Colbertian Examples

Definition of Colbertian:

pronunciation–koʊl’bɛəriən, cole-bear-ee-un

noun–language created by Northwestern University’s Bilingualism and Psycholinguistics Research Group to study language learning.

origin of pronunciation–Colbert dropped the “t” on his flight to Chicago to attend Northwestern University (interview with Northwestern Magazine).

 

LEARN COLBERTIAN NOW!

English

Colbertian Pronunciation

International Phonetic Alphabet

acorn

shundoe

/ʃʌndoʊ/

apple

glolay

/gloʊle/

basket

peftoo

/pɛftu/

candle

nepri

/nɛpri/

carrot

fenip

/fɛnɪp/

easel

acrip

/eɪkrɪp/

elbow

caddip

/kædɪp/

feather

vadip

/vædɪp/

funnel

eazoond

/izund/

garlic

hannawl

/hænɑl/

glasses

toymeen

/toɪmin/

hammer

lateep

/lætip/

iron

appint

/æpɪnt/

ladder

simmoz

/sɪmɑz/

mushroom

panboe

/pænboʊ/

necklace

bakloo

/bæklu/

onion

zinnul

/zɪnʌl/

parrot

unyops

/ʌnjɑps/

pencil

cattoss

/kætɑs/

scissors

ganteh

/gɑntə/

shovel

fummawp

/fʌmɑp/

toilet

iyork

/ajɔrk/

vacuum

eldin

/ɛldɪn/

zipper

munbo

/mʌnboʊ/

You can also participate in a Colbertian language study at our research center. [pdf]