Language ideologies on the net

[Cyndi Dunn]

The following was forwarded to me by a colleague in the UNT English Dept.  While I was amused, I also found it an interesting and somewhat disturbing example of the types of language ideologies that Jane Hill has discussed surrounding "Mock Spanish."  Note that in order to create Italian, all one has to do is add vowels to the ends of English words.  There's also the interesting twist that in this case it's the foreign, usually incomprehensible, language which carries the "real" meaning while the English titles are deliberately euphemistic.  Anyway, thought people might find it an interesting object for analysis.



> An Opera, White House Style
> 
> Act 1.
>     The Situation: Bill Clinton has been elected President of the United
> States by an overwhelming margin.  The Republicans are devastated, angry,
> and are trying to find their way back to power.
>     As the curtain rises on the opera, the House Republicans are meeting
> with Ken Starr with the object of trying to find a way to remove Bill
> Clinton from the Presidency.
>     The opening chorale "We Must Find a Way" (Creatio Grandissimo Floozi
> Scandala) is sung as a sextet. In an impressive recitative, Tom Delay
> sings "Where Will We find a Helper?" (Dredgi Uppulia Una Granda Bimba).
> The House Republicans exit.
>     Paula Jones enters stage right with a mirror, singing her plaintive
> "Why Can't I Find a Man?" (Mi Schnozzolo Es Humongo.)
>     Tom Delay and Newt Gingrich enter from the other wing.  They spot
> Paula and sing the duet "Why Not Her?" (La Flooza Perfetta).
>     They meet and take Paula to a small cafe where they hatch their plot
> in hushed tones.  Paula tells them of her meeting in a hotel with Clinton
> years earlier and how her fortunes have collapsed since then.
> Delay and Gingrich offer to help.  They sing the aria, "Your Luck Has
> Changed" (Nozjobbo Es Rewardo).
> 
> Act 2.
>     The House Republicans reconvene with the news of Paula's
> revelations.  They sing in jubilation "We must Tell the World" (Phono
> Tabloido).
>     The rear curtain rises to reveal the Chorus of Media who sing the
> chorale, "Tell Us  More, But Only the Truth" (Sexio Scandala Hypo
> Sweepi).
>     Gingrich enters with Pat Robertson.   They sing the duet "He Must
> Go" (Hypocriti Pious Crappola).  Robertson offers to make time on his
> television program to expose the charges. At the House Republicans'
> suggestion, Paula initiates a lawsuit.  The Jones scandal becomes the
> topic of conversation throughout the country.
>     The Chorus of Lawyers enters from the right to sing the jubilant
> grand chorale "We Must Do Our Duty"  (Multi, Multi Grande Moolah).
>     Ken Starr meets with the House Republicans to plan the next steps.
> They sing the aria "We Will Save the Country" (Sleezi Connivo).
>     Starr promises to convene a grand jury which will send charges to
> the Congress.  He sings "The Truth Will be Known" (Whitewater Non Starto,
> Probo la Flooz Epidemio).
>     The Chorus of Lawyers sings a reprise of "We Must Do Our Duty" as
> the act ends.
> 
> Act 3.
>     Linda Tripp enters the stage arm-in-arm with Ken Starr.  She is
> wearing a headset.  She is singing "Monica is My Dearest Friend" (Mi Es
> la Wiccida Witchi Occidenta).  She tells Starr about the secret tapes that
> she has made of conversations with Monica Lewinsky.
>     Starr takes them from her and sings "We've Got Him Now" (Presidente
> Droppo Pantaloni).  Starr hurries off to the Grand Jury to call Monica as
> a witness.
>     Monica enters the grand jury room where the Chorus of Lawyers asks
> her questions. They sing the recitative "How Did It happen?" (PantiThongo,
> la Flashi).  Monica sings the long passionate aria "We Were Meant for Each
> Other" (Non Smoko El Pruducto, Phalli Symboglio).
>     In the third scene, Hilary and Bill are sitting in the Lincoln
> bedroom talking about the revelations about Monica.  Hilary sings "I Will
> Stand By You" (Tu Jercho Estupido, Mi Removo Su Equipamento).
> Bill replies with  "She  Was the Only One" (Non Conto Gennifer, Paula,
> Piu Multi Bimba Forgetta). They embrace.
> 
> Act 4.
>     Sam Donaldson is interviewing Henry Hyde in the Capitol Building.
> The Chorus of Lawyers hums in the background.  Hyde sings the aria "We
> Believe in Something" (Impeaccho Hippi Bastardo).
>     Donaldson sings a recitative in answer, "We Only Want the Truth"
> (Toupee Eslippo).
>     The great trial begins in the Senate.  Trent Lott reacts to public
> opinion polls showing that the President has a 76% approval rating with
> the public in the poignant aria, "What is Right is Not Popular" (Partia
> Repubblico Committini Suicido).
>     The Chorus of Lawyers sings the chorale "Principles Come First" (Mi
> Adultero Non Conto).
>     With great flourish, Henry Hyde, Bill McCullom and Tom Delay stand
> before the Senate to present their case.  They sing the somber trio "How
> Can You Not Convict?" (Evidenso Multi Flimsioso).
>     Finally in a moving chorale, the Chorus Of Lawyers sings "For the
> Good of the Nation, We Must Acquit." (Senato Non Stupido.)
>     After the vote is announced,  Henry Hyde, Tom Delay, Trent Lott and
> Bill McCollum leave the Senate Chamber singing the grand quartet "We
> Still Know the Truth" (Wasto Multi Millioni) as the act ends.
> 
> Epilogue.
>     The President sings the contrite aria "I am Very Sorry" (Revengo
> Futuro) as the Chorus of Media circles him, shouting their questions.
> They sing "Who Will Now Believe Us?" (Publicca Degustanta Es in Media).
>     Monica Lewinsky crosses the stage with her new literary agent, Ken
> Starr.  They sing "It is Still Not Over" (Publishi Grande Bucchi, Dollare
> Millioni) as the curtain falls.
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