When I once pointed out a rather fetching female to him in a nightclub, he whined, "Cor, strike me, that's unnatural, innit?" Another time, I invited him to stop in a bar for a coffee, to which he responded, "Coffee? Nah, I don't drink coffee, mate, it's unnatural, innit, coffee?" His profuse perspiration I'd noted on a not particularly hot day was explained away with, "Yeah, I've always sweated a lot, it's unnatural, innit?" And so it went on.
Unnatural was applied to express size, degree, likes and dislikes, surprise... you name it, it was unnatural in some way. I thought it brilliant - unnaturally so, perhaps. There was an economy in his technique I found truly compelling. Apparently, so did his students, who followed his lead and could be heard describing the rain not as torrential, or heavy, but "unnatural-uh".
One day I met him at the school, and he was looking very sorry for himself. He'd just broken up with his Italian girlfriend. He didn't go into details, but I've often wondered whether he hadn't suggested they do something "unnatural" in the bedroom. Or summat.
I think this may well be his twin brother...
4 FITTING TRIBUTES:
Yes, these people truly exist. I once had a friend who had 3 words of Russian and a beard and was able to pass himself off in bars as an international spy, Rasputin, Tolstoy, whatever he fancied, and he always scored.
Most cockneys use adjectives in negative constructions, it's true. How many times have you heard them say "It's not warm" when they means "it's cold"?
Unnatural, innit?
Gadj, there is definitely something rakish about a few words of Russian, as Boyo will no doubt confirm.
And Boyo, you're not wrong.
innit!
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