The Tongues of Rogues

Sun, 15 Dec 2013 18:45:42 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
How secret languages develop in closed societies:
<http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/books/2013/12/daniel_heller_roazen_s_dark_tongues_reviewed.single.html>

"Also known as peddler’s French, cant was the specialized tongue of
thieves, cutpurses, and con artists.  More than just slang or jargon,
cant was an independent language, unintelligible to outsiders, an
artificial English-within-English, which, according to the playwright
Thomas Dekker, “none but themselves should understand.”"

Via Muse, who wrote: "Cool stuff about secret languages!"

Share and enjoy,
                *** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net                   Andrew Pam
http://www.xanadu.com.au/                 Chief Scientist, Xanadu
http://www.glasswings.com.au/             Partner, Glass Wings
http://www.sericyb.com.au/                Manager, Serious Cybernetics

Comment via email

Home E-Mail Sponsors Index Search About Us