Secret Language: Codes, Tricks, Spies, Thieves, and SymbolsThis book is about language that is designed to mean what it does not seem to mean. Ciphers and codes conceal messages and protect secrets. Symbol and magic hide meanings to delight or imperil. Languages made to baffle and confuse let insiders talk openly without being understood by those beyond the circle. Barry Blake looks at these and many more. He explores the history and uses of the slangs and argots of schools and trades. He traces the centuries-old cants used by sailors and criminals in Britain, among them Polari, the mix of Italian, Yiddish, and slang once spoken among strolling players and circus folk and taken up by gays in the twentieth century. He examines the sacred languages of ancient cults and religions, uncovers the workings of onomancy, spells, and gematria, looks into the obliqueness of allusion and parody, and celebrates the absurdities of euphemism and jargon. Secret Language takes the reader on fascinating excursions down obscure byways of language, ranging across time and culture. With revelations on every page it will entertain anyone with an urge to know more about the most arcane and curious uses of language. |
Contents
| 1 | |
| 7 | |
3 Talking in riddles | 41 |
4 Ciphers and codes | 72 |
5 Biblical secrets | 114 |
6 Words of power | 128 |
7 Words to avoid | 171 |
8 Jargon slang argot and secret languages | 195 |
9 The everyday oblique | 241 |
10 Elusive allusions | 265 |
11 Finale | 291 |
answers to the problems | 298 |
| 304 | |
| 321 | |
Other editions - View all
Secret Language: Codes, Tricks, Spies, Thieves, and Symbols Barry J. Blake No preview available - 2010 |
Common terms and phrases
acrostic Ages allusion alphabet amulet anagram answer appears argot avoid becomes beginning belief Bible body called century Chapter characters charm Christian cipher clue common considered consonant contain cultures curse direction enciphered English Europe example expressions fact Figure French given gives Greek hand Hebrew illustrated indicate initial instance interest involves king known language later Latin letters look magic means mentioned Middle Note original palindrome particular Persian person phrase placed plain text play poem popular practice prayers produce reference respect reverse rhyme riddles Roman secret sequence short slang societies someone sometimes speak speech spell spirit square story substitution syllable taboo taken thought traditional usually various verse vowel wheel woman words writing written