The Pronunciation Book meme originates from a YouTube channel launched in 2010 that initially provided straightforward pronunciation guides for English words. However, in 2013, the channel took a dark and cryptic turn, incorporating countdowns and strange phrases that eventually led to an Alternate Reality Game (ARG) promoting a project called Bear Stearns Bravo. The visual style—simple white text on a dark background accompanied by a professional, robotic voice—became an iconic template for internet humor. Users now use the format to ironically 'pronounce' abstract concepts, complex emotions, or nonsense phrases, perfectly mimicking the ominous and minimalist aesthetic of the original viral mystery.