The standard for pirate talk and behavior was set by Robert Newton, mentioned above by Big Pink. As Long John Silver in "Treasure Island," he was the pirate with (perhaps)a soft heart, but in "Blackbeard" he had no redeeming features whatsoever, consistently charmed his own crew into fatal activities, and talked his way out of a major mutiny or two. He introduced the all-purpose pirate word "Arrrgh" to the public with immortal phrases like "Arrrgh, Main-yard, ye kilt me best hack 'n slash man..." and "Arrrgh, its a fine buxom wench ye are..."

(A lot of that seafaring jargon came from the poor Irish sailors who were hired or shanghied onto those ships. "Bucko" for instance came from the Irish "me Buchal" and so on. You can see the patterns.)

"Blackbeard" should be required viewing for anyone interested in pirate speech and behavior. I saw it as a kid, and I'll never forget the last scene in which Blacbeards crew buried him up to his neck on the beach and watched the tide come in.

O'Meara

(I'm Bloody Sam Rackham to ye scurvy dogs!)