Atlas Obscura celebrates an ancient tradition dating back to Dante – and maybe further – of nonsense songs that sound like the language of a foreign neighbour. The picture shows Charlie Chaplin doing just that in the film Modern Times, with the embellishment of lascivious gestures.

Prisencolinensinainciusol is a more recent celebrated example of Italian showman Adriano Celentano singing the eponymous nonsense song in what sounds convincingly like American English.

Members interested in conlangs (constructed languages) which spice much science fiction and fantasy literature, should study the Atlas Obscura article, which goes deep into Grammelot, song, and nonsense-languages (allegedly representing sin and divine punishment in the mediaeval world), linking to several primary sources.