# What's the name for this sing-song style of speech based on position within the alphabet? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 24, 2015, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-name-for-this-sing-song-style-of-speech-based-on-position-within-the-alphabet/713514 "2015-02-24T14:21:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ambushed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3bc359/32.png) [@ambushed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ambushed)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2015, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-name-for-this-sing-song-style-of-speech-based-on-position-within-the-alphabet/713514/1 "2015-02-24T14:21:35Z")
Hi! I need your help trying to remember the name of a sing-song style of speech wherein each letter/syllable is “sung” in a tone/pitch that’s based on its position in the alphabet. That is to say, the letters are ‘sung’ from low tones based on their relative position, progressively higher in pitch as the alphabet progresses (i.e., “A” & “B” are ‘sung’ in lower pitches while "Y’ and “Z” are ‘sung’ in high pitches). This is sorta an older children’s game/thing, but many people have heard of it. (And no, I am not referring to the “alphabet song” sung to Twinkle, Twinkle). I’m too damn old and my memory’s shot so I need help, please! ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2015, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-name-for-this-sing-song-style-of-speech-based-on-position-within-the-alphabet/713514/2 "2015-02-24T15:04:46Z")
Are you talking about singing the alphabet or singing as a style of speech in which each syllable of whatever text is sung is sung at a pitch corresponding to the starting letter’s position in the alphabet? ---
**Author:** ![Elemenopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b5e925/32.png) [@Elemenopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elemenopy)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2015, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-name-for-this-sing-song-style-of-speech-based-on-position-within-the-alphabet/713514/3 "2015-02-24T15:45:23Z")
This probably isn’t exactly what you’re thinking of, but I read about a fascinating invented language called [Solresol](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solresol) a long time ago in a Steven Pinker book. It’s based on musical tones. Check the bottom of the wiki; the links may contain what you’re looking for. ---
**Author:** ![ambushed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3bc359/32.png) [@ambushed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ambushed)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2015, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-name-for-this-sing-song-style-of-speech-based-on-position-within-the-alphabet/713514/4 "2015-02-24T15:58:07Z")
> [@AHunter3](#): > > Are you talking about singing the alphabet or singing as a style of speech in which each syllable of whatever text is sung is sung at a pitch corresponding to the starting letter’s position in the alphabet? The latter. Thanks for asking! ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2015, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-name-for-this-sing-song-style-of-speech-based-on-position-within-the-alphabet/713514/5 "2015-02-24T23:08:42Z")
> [@Elemenopy](#): > > This probably isn’t exactly what you’re thinking of, but I read about a fascinating invented language called [Solresol](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solresol) a long time ago in a Steven Pinker book. It’s based on musical tones. Check the bottom of the wiki; the links may contain what you’re looking for. Ugh, solfeggio shit! Hate that stuff! I had a college music teacher who tortured me with that. ---
**Author:** ![eburacum45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eburacum45/32/8690_2.png) [@eburacum45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eburacum45)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2015, 7:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-name-for-this-sing-song-style-of-speech-based-on-position-within-the-alphabet/713514/6 "2015-02-25T07:51:55Z")
Solresol has an unusual quality; you can sing one message while speaking another. This would allow you to give both sides of an argument simultaneously.