Hello, I'm a new member here.
I don't know if anyone has realised that the Arumbayas' (in The
Broken Ear and Tintin and the Picaros) language is actually English
written in a disguised form. I found it highly interesting and amusing! I hope I'm not writing something that has already been posted before...if it has, I'm sorry to take up space.
Note: I actually posted this message on the Tintin Yahoo! Groups earlier and with the help of "George", he was able to provide me with the parts of the "translations" that I couldn't figure out. Thank you very much George! I'm sure you are here on the Tintinologist.org forums. My nick on the Yahoo! Groups is four4seven7.
On page 52 of The Broken Ear, here are the words and
'translations'.
1. Owar ya? Ts goota meecha mai 'tee
--> How are you? 'Tis good to meet you matey.
2. Naluk. Djarem membah dabrah nai dul? Tintin zluk infu rit'h.
Kanyah elpim?
--> Now look. D'you remember the brown idol? Tintin's looking for
it. Can you help him?
3. Dabrah nai dul? Oi, oi! Slaika toljah. Datrai b'giv dabrah nai
dul ta'Walker. Ewuz anaisgi. Butiz'h felaz tukahr presh usdjuel.
Enefda Arumbayas ket chim dai lavis gutsfa gahtah'z. No mess in'h!
--> The brown idol? Yes, yes! It's like I told you. The tribe give
the brown idol to Walker. He was a nice guy. But his fella's took a
precious jewel. And if the Arumbayas catch him they'll have his
guts for garters.
4. Cohrluv ahduk! Ai tolja tahitta ferlip inbaul intada oh'l!
Andatdohn meenis ferlip ineer oh'l!
--> Cor luv a duck! I told you to hit the flippin' ball into the
hole. And I don't mean his flippin' earhole!
And on page 34 of Tintin and the Picaros,
1. Owzah g'rubai?
--> How's the grub?
2. Oozfa sek' unds?
--> Who's for seconds?
3. Ava 'n ip?
--> Have a nip?
4. Goh' blimeh! Wa' samma ta, li li li va?... Lem eshohya!
--> Cor blimey! What's the matter, lily-liver? Let me show you!
5. Sum in 'ksup wivit!
--> Something's up with it!
According to George, basically you have to read the lines out loud in London/Cockney accent, then you'll pick up what's said.
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EDIT:
I humbly apologise! I just realised that all this info has already been published on this website by Mr Andrew Pilcher since 1999:
https://www.tintinologist.org/articles/arumbaya.html
Well, I'm glad I figured it out for myself before reading the article!
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[Post edited by Moderator (marsbar). Combined two posts.]