IGPAY ATINLAY

If you’ve ever wanted to learn another language but haven’t had the time, then there is a very simple language you can easily learn in no time at all. Many of the older folk among us will already have worked out this language just by looking at the heading. Yes, it’s Pig Latin. I just need to clarify a couple of things before I explain the mechanics of the language. Firstly, it is not based on Latin, and secondly it is not spoken by pigs although if pigs could speak it, they would be even more gruntled than they usually are. Nobody knows where the name Pig Latin originated but it has been around for at least one hundred and fifty years. It became very popular in the early twentieth century and its usage appeared in many films when the characters needed to talk in code. The famous old movie star Ginger Rogers sang a song in Pig Latin in the 1933 film Gold Diggers. Krusty the Clown in the Simpsons has also been known to speak Pig Latin on occasions.

If you can speak English, then you can learn Pig Latin and the rules are quite simple.

Rule Number One. For words that begin with consonant sounds, all letters before the initial vowel are placed at the end of the word, then ‘ay’ is added, as in the following examples: pig = igpay latin = atinlay banana = ananabay cat = atcay dog = ogday happy = appyhay me = emay too = ootay

Rule Number Two. When words begin with two or more consonants that form one sound such as ‘ch’ or ‘sm’, the whole sound is transferred to the end of the word and then ‘ay’ is added as in the following examples: smile = ilesmay chat = atchay string = ingstray stupid = upidstay trash = ashtray floor= oorflay store= orestay

Rule Number Three. For words that begin with vowel sounds, you can add either ‘way’, ‘yay’ or just ‘ay’ to the end of the word. Some examples are: eat = eatway or eatay are = areway or areay egg = eggway or eggay

I = Iway end = endway or enday honest = honestway

There is an alternative method for words beginning with vowel sounds and it is one that I prefer although you only use it for words with more than one syllable. You remove the initial vowel along with the first consonant or consonant cluster and add these to the end of the word and then add ‘ay’. This make the words appear to be more mysterious and it makes it more difficult for the non-Pig Latin speaking listener to understand. Some examples are: every = eryevay becoming carbon neutral (net-zero) no later than July 1, 2035,” he said. “It is an ambitious target, but by acting now and investing smartly we will be well placed to achieve it.”

In 2022, GMW completed the Mitiamo Solar and Battery Project, which enabled the Mitiamo pumps to be powered by the solar power and battery system. Mr Gomez said solar works at the Casey Street office would again benefit both customers and the environment. “The new solar system will reduce electricity bills, offsetting grid demands. It meets present needs and has the capacity to meet demands for future growth as well,” he said. “We are a government-owned for purpose entity, meaning any efficiencies we create are passed on to customers, so it is a good outcome for all involved.”

In 2023, GMW will also take its first steps in transitioning its light fleet to electric vehicles. The organisation will soon go out to tender to have an electric vehicle fast charging station installed at its Casey Street office, with its first electric fleet vehicle to be delivered in the coming months. Last year, the Victorian Government issued a Statement of Obligation making Victoria’s water sector the first in Australia to commit to net zero emissions by 2035. The Victorian water sector is committed to being a leader in emissions reduction.

- Klaus Nannestad, Media Adviser

Explain = plainexay another = otheranay under = erunday island = andislay

Several Pig Latin words have entered mainstream English of which the two best known are ‘ixnay’ and ‘amscray’. If you don’t know what they mean I suggest you go back and read this article again.

With a bit of practice, you will soon become quite proficient in Pig Latin and will be able to both amaze and confuse your friends and family. Oodgay ucklay.

- John Kriesfeld

March Funnies

Did you know that 10+10 and 11+11 are the same thing? Because 10+10 equals twenty and 11+11 equals twenty too.

I asked my wife if I was the only one she had ever been with. She said yes, all the others were nines and tens.

A company owner was asked a question: "How do you motivate your employees to be so punctual?" He smiled and replied: "It's simple. I have 30 employees and 29 free parking spaces. One is paid parking."

When I got to work this morning, my boss stormed up to me and said, "You missed work yesterday, didn't you?"

I said, "No, not particularly."

Mystery Balloons Over Tatura

There has been an unconfirmed report of a balloon or balloons flying high over the small central Victorian town of Tatura. It is unclear as to the reason for this incident.

It has a very similar story to the balloon that was seen and shot down in America recently. The American balloon was spotted at 60,000 feet. and shot down with a very expensive air to air missile fired from a jet fighter. The order to shoot it down was given by the President of the United States. It was suspected of being a spy balloon. To avoid causalities on the ground it was brought down over the ocean. The remains were collected and taken away for further investigations. Apparently, something very similar happened with the Tatura mystery balloon as these pictures clearly show. However, who was behind this is still a mystery as nobody is talking.