Vulgar Tongues: An Alternative History of English Slang by Max Decharne
A rollercoaster ride through the colourful history of slang - from highwaymen to hip-hop, now in paperback
Slang is the language of pop culture, low culture, street culture, underground movements and secret societies; depending on your point of view, it is a badge of honour, a sign of identity or a dangerous assault on the values of polite society. Of all the vocabularies available to us, slang is the most alive, constantly evolving and - as it leaks into the mainstream and is taken up by all of us - infusing the language with a healthy dose of vitality.
Witty, energetic and informative, Vulgar Tongues traces the many routes of slang, beginning with the thieves and prostitutes of Elizabethan London and ending with the present day (where the centuries-old terms rap and hip-hop still survive, though their meanings have changed). On the way, we'll meet Dr Johnson, World War Two flying aces, pickpockets, schoolchildren, hardboiled private eyes, carnival geeks and the many eccentric characters who have tried to record slang throughout its chequered past.
If you're curious about flapdragons and ale passion, the changing meanings of punk and geek, or how fly originated on the streets of eighteenth-century London and square in Masonic lodges, this is the book for you.
About the Author
Max Decharne is an author, songwriter and musician. He has recorded numerous albums and singles, and eight John Peel Sessions as the singer with The Flaming Stars. A regular contributor to Mojo magazine since 1998, his books include Hardboiled Hollywood, King's Road, the jive-talk dictionary Straight From The Fridge, Dad, and A Rocket in my Pocket, a history of rockabilly music (Serpent's Tail 2010) as well as the 2016 work Vulgar Tongues - An Alternative History of English Slang.
Paperback | 400 pages
129 x 198 x 24mm | 332g
22 Nov 2017
Profile Books Ltd
Serpent's Tail
London, United Kingdom
English
1846688280
9781846688287
Condition: Good
A book that has been read but is in good condition. Very minimal damage to the cover including minor scuff marks and creasing, but no holes or tears. The majority of pages are undamaged with no creasing or tearing, no pencil underlining of text, no highlighting of text, no writing in margins. There is very minor discolouring to the book's fore-edge, which is only visible when the book is closed. No missing pages. Still a very clean, solid and readable copy.