Gibberish - Definition and Overview

Gibberish is a generic term for talking that sounds like speech but has no actual meaning. This meaning has also been extended to meaningless text (such as "gadeegoolagoochigoogallygadgad").

It is also used to refer to language games created by inserting a certain code syllable in the middle of each syllable of a regular sentence. For example, if the code syllable were "ob", then "Hello, Thomas" would be translated as "Hobellobo, Thobomobas". While a relatively simple code, this can be difficult to understand when spoken swiftly and sounds merely like meaningless babble, which is how it received its name. While any syllables could theoretically be used as code syllables, there are some which have risen to greater use.

• Ubbi dubbi – "ub"
• Double Dutch – "ag"
• Op (or Oppish) – "op"

In addition, some variations exist with longer code sequences such as "ubbagg", resulting in even more gibberish-sounding gibberish. (Yubbaggou dubbaggon't wubbaggant tubbaggo knubbaggow).

Origin of the term

There are a couple of possible origins here. One says that the basis is in the old word "gibber" which is allied to "jabber". The problem with this one is that "gibberish" was in use before the word "gibber", therefore making things dubious. A better explanation says the word comes from Geber, the name of an Arabian alchemist in the 11th century. He invented a strange terminology so that his works could not be understood by others; more importantly, he could not be accused of heresy, which was punishable by death. "Gibberish" in its modern sense was certainly known by 1811.