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Original poster

Why Biff, Chip and Kipper?

49 replies

1dilemma · 02/02/2008 22:51

OK I have to ask was reading one of these yesterday (not by myself obv.) and why B,C & K why not John, Jane and Bob or Tilly, Tom and Sam or Chantelle, Tegan and Kyle or Candida, Iolanthe and Tristan?

OP posts:
dinny · 02/02/2008 22:52

good question - I wondered that. sure some clever MNetter will enlighten....

oliviaelanasmum · 02/02/2008 22:53

I dont know but even dd1 said to me when we first started reading them "They aren't proper names are they mum!"

PurplePillow · 02/02/2008 22:53

they are not the real names, it's the nicknames

sallystrawberry · 02/02/2008 22:53

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

mynaughtylittlesister · 02/02/2008 22:54

They are nicknames!

Barbera, Christopher and [blush can't remember what the other one is short for.

PurplePillow · 02/02/2008 22:55

The real names are Barbara (Biff) David (Chip) and the third one escapes me!

sallystrawberry · 02/02/2008 22:55

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

mynaughtylittlesister · 02/02/2008 22:55

Pretty sure that Barbera and Christopher are twins.

OverMyDeadBody · 02/02/2008 22:56

I've always wondered that too (I really must get out more!), I wonder if there was any reasoning behind it or if those names where relevant to the writer.

Maybe they where chosen precicely because the likelihood of many children actually being called that was slim? I don't know...

emkana · 02/02/2008 22:57

What I want to know is what is the significance of the creepy guy with the thick glasses and the beard who turns up in the background in many many books?

OverMyDeadBody · 02/02/2008 22:57

Really?! Nicknames??

Tommy · 02/02/2008 22:57

surely it's because they can be read phonetically? They are very straightforward to read when you are just starting off.

At least, that's what I thought

OverMyDeadBody · 02/02/2008 22:57

tis the illustrator emkana, getting himself into all his drawings!

emkana · 02/02/2008 22:58

God he's ugly though

OverMyDeadBody · 02/02/2008 22:58

Chip isn't phonetic. Why not ben or bob or tom or tim?

mynaughtylittlesister · 02/02/2008 22:59

Did you also know that if you saw a man with a tatty beard in the book then it was Roderick Hunt! I was told this many years ago, and only he appears in the books that Roderick Hunt writes! I have no reason why that is not true! honest!

OverMyDeadBody · 02/02/2008 22:59

I made that up by the way emkana! (coz I recon I'd do that if I was a children's illustrator!)

emkana · 02/02/2008 22:59

Why isn't chip phonetic?

I thought the names were chosen because there is no cultural bias to them.

colditz · 02/02/2008 23:00

ch i p

Chip

It is phonetic.

Tommy · 02/02/2008 23:00

it's all the sounds from jolly phonics - Ch-i-p, K-i-pp-er and B-i-ff

mynaughtylittlesister · 02/02/2008 23:01

Chip is phonetic CH I P!

PurplePillow · 02/02/2008 23:01

i think the nicknames came from when kipper was learning to speak (omg how sad am i) lol

OverMyDeadBody · 02/02/2008 23:01

sounding out chip phonetically gives k.h.i.p

the ch sound is a blend, so until children know that ch says 'ch' they will sound out the individual letters.

colditz · 02/02/2008 23:02

ch is a sound taught in reception, as is sh, th, ee, or, ng etc

They stand alone, away from their components.

mynaughtylittlesister · 02/02/2008 23:03

I will have a good old delve on Monday morning to see why Kipper is called Kipper! Will let you know!

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