# Help solve this argument \[Monty Python quote-- Ed. title\] **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 17, 2017, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-solve-this-argument-monty-python-quote-ed-title/780089 "2017-02-17T18:34:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2017, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-solve-this-argument-monty-python-quote-ed-title/780089/1 "2017-02-17T18:34:06Z")
A long-time Python connoisseur friend thinks it’s pronounced “Throat WARbler Mangrove” but I think it’s “Throat WOBbler Mangrove”. The internet (other than [MontyPython.net](http://MontyPython.net)) seems to back him up (!!!:mad:), but listening to it… Really? [@0:21](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tyQvjKqXA0Y) ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2017, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-solve-this-argument-monty-python-quote-ed-title/780089/2 "2017-02-17T18:57:24Z")
It’s the whole him being British and using the non-rhotic r thingy. Also, warbling involves the throat whereas wobbling does not. Not sure if I’ve been whooshed here 😕 By the way, until I watched that clip I never got the TWM jokes here so there’s another tiny bit of my ignorance fought:) ---
**Author:** ![MoonMoon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moonmoon/32/2959_2.png) [@MoonMoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MoonMoon)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2017, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-solve-this-argument-monty-python-quote-ed-title/780089/3 "2017-02-17T19:04:44Z")
It’s warbler. There is actually a bird called the mangrove warbler, which might have inspired it. Mostly, I imagine, it’s because it’s a silly sounding combination of words. ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2017, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-solve-this-argument-monty-python-quote-ed-title/780089/4 "2017-02-17T19:11:45Z")
Points taken from both you folks. Damn my youth at hearing this at a really young age and having misheard it all this time. ---
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2017, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-solve-this-argument-monty-python-quote-ed-title/780089/5 "2017-02-17T23:07:41Z")
No, I’m on your side Eddie. _ **I** _ speak with a non-rhotic accent, and it’s still “wobbler”. The “aw” in “Warbler” would rhyme with “caught” or “lawn” (see, no “r’s” in either of those - this is to do with the vowel itself), and that doesn’t, it rhymes with “cotton” or “robin” Ignorance fought, 'cause I had actually always thought it was “warbler”, but never seen the actual clip. ---
**Author:** ![Cugel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cugel/32/1199_2.png) [@Cugel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cugel)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2017, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-solve-this-argument-monty-python-quote-ed-title/780089/6 "2017-02-17T23:52:02Z")
I have a book of scripts where it’s wobbler. And I also can’t hear anything but wobbler. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2017, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-solve-this-argument-monty-python-quote-ed-title/780089/7 "2017-02-17T23:58:06Z")
[Previous thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=631158). Yes, it’s “wobbler,” not “warbler.” ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2017, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-solve-this-argument-monty-python-quote-ed-title/780089/8 "2017-02-18T00:02:30Z")
I’m disappointed that the Doper with that as his handle hasn’t shown up in either thread… ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2017, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-solve-this-argument-monty-python-quote-ed-title/780089/9 "2017-02-18T00:05:49Z")
Correct - it’s “Throatwobbler.” You can find it here (p. 259 of my 1989 edition): [https://www.amazon.com/Complete-Monty-Pythons-Flying-Circus/dp/0679726470/ref=sr\_1\_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1487376213&sr=1-1&keywords=complete+monty+all+words](https://www.amazon.com/Complete-Monty-Pythons-Flying-Circus/dp/0679726470/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1487376213&sr=1-1&keywords=complete+monty+all+words) ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2017, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-solve-this-argument-monty-python-quote-ed-title/780089/10 "2017-02-18T13:08:02Z")
[Moderating] I’ve edited the thread title to make it clearer what the discussion is about. “Help solve this argument” could refer to almost anything, and won’t necessarily attract knowledgeable people. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2017, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-solve-this-argument-monty-python-quote-ed-title/780089/11 "2017-02-18T13:43:46Z")
Here’s what I think happened. In the original broadcast UK episode it is Throatwobbler. When they recreated it in, I think, the Hollywood Bowl live episode, which is where a lot of Americans first encountered Python, it was Throatwarbler. There were many subtle differences like that, sometimes slips of tongue, sometimes caused by tightening a sketch, or for a new transition/juxtaposition between sketches. ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2017, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-solve-this-argument-monty-python-quote-ed-title/780089/12 "2017-02-18T14:46:54Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > [Previous thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=631158). Yes, it’s “wobbler,” not “warbler.” :smack: I did think of using the search function to see if this had been covered, but then I thought - “yeah _right_”. Huh…more egg on this OP’s face. What next - a long lost thread about African vs. European swallows? Interesting to see the apparent “WOBbler” consensus. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2017, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-solve-this-argument-monty-python-quote-ed-title/780089/13 "2017-02-18T18:40:37Z")
> [@John\_DiFool](#): > > I’m disappointed that the Doper with that as his handle hasn’t shown up in either thread… Well, he’ll never find it with a vanity search, his name is misspelled. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2017, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-solve-this-argument-monty-python-quote-ed-title/780089/14 "2017-02-18T18:49:39Z")
> [@](#): > > What next - a long lost thread about African vs. European swallows? I don’t know. ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2017, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-solve-this-argument-monty-python-quote-ed-title/780089/15 "2017-02-18T19:08:01Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > I don’t know. \ **Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2017, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-solve-this-argument-monty-python-quote-ed-title/780089/16 "2017-02-19T02:14:51Z") Green… No…blue-WHHHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!! Oh well - guess I’ve missed my chance to go any camping holiday with TWM.☹ ---
**Author:** ![Cayuga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@Cayuga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cayuga)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2017, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-solve-this-argument-monty-python-quote-ed-title/780089/17 "2017-02-20T18:44:54Z")
Can I just take a moment to say that this is, in fact, the first time I have been on telev— No, wait. Can I just take a moment to say that when I was teenager (i.e., an asshole), I once called my parents collect and, when the operator asked for my name, I said “Throatwarbler Mangrove” (never thought it was anything else until now). She asked me to spell it, so I said, “L-U-X-U-R-Y-Y-A-C-H-T. Throatwarbler Mangrove.” ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2017, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-solve-this-argument-monty-python-quote-ed-title/780089/18 "2017-02-21T17:07:23Z")
> [@Cayuga](#): > > She asked me to spell it, so I said, “L-U-X-U-R-Y-Y-A-C-H-T. Throatwarbler Mangrove.” Ooo we don’t half talk posh, don’t we? I suppose you say “ehnvelope” and “larngerie” and “sarndwiches on the sett\*-ee\*”! ---
**Author:** ![swampspruce](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampspruce/32/261_2.png) [@swampspruce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampspruce)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2017, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-solve-this-argument-monty-python-quote-ed-title/780089/19 "2017-02-21T17:54:50Z")
This is all too complicated; mind if I call you Bruce? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2017, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-solve-this-argument-monty-python-quote-ed-title/780089/20 "2017-02-21T18:13:22Z")
Accents are bad enough. Then once you throw in [banter](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rKYL0tW-Ek&t=0m25s)… [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-solve-this-argument-monty-python-quote-ed-title/780089.md?page=2)