Come along for an exploration of anti-languages and the qualities that make them successful in building community and maintaining safety among the people that develop them. From occupational jargon to survival as a marginalized group to being hip with the kids, we tour a few of these languages, and subject everyone to a 16th century dialogue with translation.

Links

• O latín dos canteiros en Cabana de Bergantiños (Madrygal, in Galician)
• Anti-Languages (American Anthropologist)
• The Language of the Underworld and its Sociolinguistic Significance (Contributions to the Study of Language, Literature and Culture)
• The secret “anti-languages” you’re not supposed to know (BBC Future)
• The Book of Vagabonds and Beggars: With a Vocabulary of Their Language (via Google Books)
• A caveat or warning for common cursetors, vulgarly called vagabonds. Whereunto is added, The tale of the second taking of the counterfeit crank (via Google Books)
• Uncovering Thieves’ Cant, the Elizabethan Slang of the Underworld (MentalFloss)
• Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue (via Project Gutenberg)
• A brief history of Polari: the curious after-life of the dead language for gay men (The Conversation)
• The Polari Bible (Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence)
• Putting on the Dish (via YouTube)
• Putting on the Dish Screenplay (Brian and Karl)
• This Month in Linguistics History: Lavender Language/Linguistics (Linguistic Society of America)
• Cants And ‘Anti-Languages’ — The Hidden World Of Secret Languages (Babbel Magazine)
• Verlan - French Slang (ThoughtCo)

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