Becoming a SailorIn short
Linguists call a family's shared made-up language a familect, and it is unusual to have one written down. Ours is the SV Aphrodite Family Dictionary, with more than 100 words from our life afloat. To make it easier to read, a new Word of the Hour appears on our home page at the top of every hour, with a countdown timer. Click a word for its backstory, photos and sometimes a video.
Linguists call a shared made-up language a familect. It is unusual to have one in written form.
Enter the SV Aphrodite Family Dictionary
The SV Aphrodite Family Dictionary has more than 100 words. To make it a more manageable read, I’ve added a fun feature:
At the top of every hour a new word from SV Aphrodite’s Family Dictionary displays on my home page.
From our Family Dictionary, some examples of the Word of the Hour include:
Click an image to read a more detailed definition for the term, including backstories, photos and a few videos.
A timer counts down the time until the next definition is revealed. Watch it happen at the top of the hour.
The Shared Words of a Familect
Here are some articles and a book written about the unique words that families create:
- Every family has a secret language. Experts call it ‘familect.’ (Washington Post)
- Why your family’s secret language is good for kids (National Geographic)
- Speaking it in the family (Guardian)
- Kitchen Table Lingo (a book by the English Project)