Patter
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2008-07-04T23:49:38Z
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'''Patter''' is a glib rapid [[Speech communication|speech]], that accompanies and complements some actions, e.g., of an [[auctioneer]], [[salesperson]], [[caller (dancing)]], or [[comedian]].
It was a slang word for the secret or [[cant language]] used by beggars, thieves, [[Roma people]], etc., hence the fluent plausible talk that a cheap-jack employs to pass off his goods. Many [[illusionist]]s, e.g., [[card magic]]ians use patter both to enhance the show and to distract the attention of the spectators.
It is thus used of any rapid manner of talking, and of a [[patter-song]], in which a very large number of words have to be sung at high speed to fit them to the music. A western square dance [[Caller (dancing)#The modern Western square dance caller | caller]] may interpolate patter — in the form of metrical lines, often of nonsense — to fill in between commands to the dancers.<ref>[http://www.ceder.net/choreo/patter_sayings.php4 Square Dance Patter Sayings.]Vic & Debbie Ceder's Square Dance Resource Net.</ref>
The word, though in some of its senses affected by "patter", to make a series of rapid strokes or pats, as of raindrops, is derived from the way of quick and mechanical mumbling of [[prayer]]s and is the colloquial shortening of "[[Lord's Prayer|Pater Noster]]".
In certain forms of entertainment, [[peep show]]s (in the historical meaning) and Russian ''[[rayok]]'', patter is an important component of a show. The [[radio DJ]] patter is among the roots of [[rapping]].
In hypnotherapy, the hypnotist uses a 'patter' or script to deliver positive suggestions for change to the client.
During this year's [[MTV Movie Awards]], writer Kip Madsen invented a method of writing presenter patter known as the [[Madsen Method]].
==References==
*{{1911}}
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[[Category:Entertainment]]
[[Category:Oral communication]]