Death Rattle

November 23, 2007 10:22 AM

Can you say that again? you gurgled it the first time......Or it's simply the language of the zombies via, often full of groans. Since death rattle is a fairly difficult language to understand by word, it is common to understand through body language, and volume. For example, a loud angry "Rahhr!" will usually mean "I'm going to kill you." A soft "Bhrr." with hands in front will usually mean "Please, don't hurt me, I didn't know she was your girlfriend."
But more commonly, over-used to describe movies or fading trends and Russian Death metal...Hear the Rattle!
...otherwise possibly boring FPP's on terminology.
posted by greenskpr (12 comments total)

Hey!
posted by Astro Zombie at 10:25 AM on November 23, 2007

gurgle, slurp, slurp, belch.
posted by blue_beetle at 10:44 AM on November 23, 2007

We sleep apnea people go thru this every night. Thank goodness for the C-pap machines.
posted by doctorschlock at 10:57 AM on November 23, 2007

There's only one word in zombie-ese: "Brains!"
posted by Steven C. Den Beste at 11:22 AM on November 23, 2007

Hey doctorshlock, my Dad has had success with sleeping in a tee-shirt that has tennis ball sewed into the back...it keeps you from rolling onto your back thus helping the position of your throat, tongue, etc...rahhr. seriously.
posted by greenskpr at 11:27 AM on November 23, 2007

I'd really love to hear what Astro Zombie 3 has to say about all of this...
posted by horsemuth at 12:14 PM on November 23, 2007 [1 favorite]

Narf narf.
posted by Astro Zombie 3 at 1:38 PM on November 23, 2007

In Urban Dead, at least, Death Rattle is the skill that lets zombies speak with the letters ABGHMNRZ. This produces catchphrases like:

BARHAH!
HARMAN HAMBARGARZ!
and the ever-popular
BANANA GANGBANG!
posted by Pope Guilty at 1:58 PM on November 23, 2007 [3 favorites]

Isn't it funny that the mucus/suction thing happens at the moment of birth, too? Ah, bookends.
posted by DenOfSizer at 2:10 PM on November 23, 2007

What is it that Dana Gould says? We all enter this world in the same way: naked; screaming; soaked in blood. But if you live your life right, that kind of thing doesn't have to stop there.
posted by Astro Zombie at 3:14 PM on November 23, 2007 [2 favorites]

Why is it that whenever I hear the term "death rattle" I think of a tiny toddler grim reaper, sitting in a bone play-pen, playing with a little skull toy? I imagine he has a stuffed white horsey and a little wooden scythe as well.

It's kind of a sweet image, actually.
posted by quin at 4:08 PM on November 23, 2007 [2 favorites]

So long Dad, rest now
Sunday I'll visit you and talk
Wish I had, too late
posted by Mblue at 7:02 PM on November 23, 2007