The Linguist

@CIOL_Linguists AUTUMN 2024 The Linguist 31 OPINION & COMMENT periods of cultural suppression or political turmoil, marginalised communities may invent ways of evading censorship or surveillance. These secret languages serve not only as a means of preserving cultural identity but also as a form of resistance against attempts to silence or control linguistic expression. In addition to their practical applications, such cants play a role in fostering a sense of belonging within the community. The shared knowledge of the code creates a bond among its speakers, fostering a sense of solidarity and mutual trust. In this way, they serve not only as a tool for communication but also as a marker of group identity. As for M language, it is intended as a secret means of talking to close friends or siblings. Despite their inward nature, such languages often attract curiosity and intrigue from outsiders. Linguists and researchers may study them to gain insights into the underlying mechanisms of language and communication. Additionally, popular culture often romanticises the concept of secret languages, portraying them as mysterious and exotic. According to Listverse, 2 the Top 10 secret languages worldwide include Swardspeak, Pig Latin, Thieves' Cant, Carnie and Polari. Among these, Pig Latin, which is based on the English language, shares similarities with the M language. First employed around 1869 by children, Pig Latin involves converting English words based on their initial letters or groups of letters. If a word begins with a vowel, 'way' is appended to the end, so 'awesome' becomes 'awesomeway'. If it starts with a consonant followed by a vowel, the initial consonant is relocated to the end with 'ay', so 'happy' becomes 'appyhay'. In cases where the word starts with two consonants, both are shifted to the end, as when 'child' becomes 'ildchay'. Lunfardo is used by prisoners in Argentina and started among the poorer people in Buenos Aires. Mixing Spanish and Italian, it has more than 5,000 words and is known for switching syllables, e.g. feca for cafe. It was used in tango music until 1943, when it was banned from tango because of its association with violence and sex. In the 1960s it made a comeback, and you can now find Spanish- Lunfardo dictionaries. Norhaniza Nuruddin ACIL is a certified translator from Malaysia with over 11 years' linguistic experience. TL Wrestlers, meanwhile, have Carnie, which began with carnival workers who wanted to communicate during fake wrestling matches without the audience catching on. In Carnie, English words are changed by adding 'eaz' before each vowel sound. So, 'is' becomes 'eazis' and 'Kelley' becomes 'Keazelleazey'. There are also special words such as 'Andre shot' (making a wrestler's muscles look bigger in photos); 'Batman match' (a boring match); 'beat down' (when a wrestler gets attacked by a group); and 'canned heat' (fake crowd noise, e.g. cheering, played through speakers). Secret languages exemplify the rich diversity of human linguistic creativity. They serve various functions within their respective communities. While specific to their cultural contexts, these cants reflect universal human tendencies towards linguistic innovation and social unity. As researchers continue to explore the fascinating world of secret languages, they uncover the complexities of language mechanisms and the enduring human desire to connect and communicate in meaningful ways. Notes 1 Thorpe, K et al (2001) 'Prevalence and Developmental Course of Secret Language'. In International Journal of Language and Communication Disorders, 36,1, 43-62 2 Taylor, O (2017) 'Top 10 Secret Languages'. In Listverse, 1/4/17; https://cutt.ly/DezZ6Ccv Inspired by CIOL Vice President Jean Coussins (for reasons which will become apparent), the Chartered Institute of Linguists is launching a light-hearted competition for our members and readers of The Linguist – to propose a new collective noun for linguists! This contest aims to find the most original, witty or apt term to describe a group of linguists or language professionals. Entries will be judged by a panel including Baroness Coussins (pictured), with the winner receiving a prize. Piqued by the delightful collective noun 'a parliament of owls', she proposed the idea as a way to celebrate the wonderful skills and creativity of the linguistic community. Members, readers and all lovers of languages are encouraged to let their imaginations run wild. Early suggestions have included 'a syntax' and 'a mouthful', as well as the existing 'a babel', which has some historical currency. This is all about fun, but with a serious message too. Creativity, wit and wordplay are skills that linguists have in superabundance thanks to our exposure to other languages and cultures. The winning entry can hope to join the pantheon of memorable collective nouns in the English language, cementing linguists' place alongside the shrewdness of apes and the charm of finches, but well away from the prattle of parrots! Watch this space. Please send entries to comms@ciol.org.uk. A competition for word lovers TROUPER: Carnie speaker Albert Harris at his coconut shy at Cambridge Midsummer Fair CHILD'S PLAY: Covert languages often start with children, as with the M language in Malaysia ANDREW DUNN VIA WIKIPEDIA (CC BY-SA 2.0)

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