CROONAERT Posted 14 March , 2003 Share Posted 14 March , 2003 In one of my recent posts,I mentioned a cartoon series in Battle comic about the Great war called "Charley's War".In this series ,which contained many factual anecdotes, a soldiers slang known as "back slang" gets a mention. This was developed as an "insult language" that the soldiers could use to speak to each other but not be understood by any locals/officers about whom they may be talking.The rules for this was that the first letter of a word was put at the end and a letter "a" added (eg. "oolfa" = "fool", "ottenra reepca" = "rotten creep") . My wifes father calls cabbage (what sounds like) "elcabbargoe".When I asked him why,he says his father (who was a soldier 1917-18) called it that.Could this be another form of "back-slang"? I've never come across any other reference to back slang (although wasn't there a comedian in the '70's whose act used similar?). Can anyone tell me any more about it,or give any other examples that have been used in modern parlance? Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt York Posted 14 March , 2003 Share Posted 14 March , 2003 Dave The comedian was the late Professor Stanley Unwin whom spoke in this language. It's interesting about your father-in-law using his father's Great War speak... My late dad served in the Royal Marines during WWII and was always using 'Bootneck' speak, the consequence being the whole family still use his words/saying today (some not so polite). Ronnie. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dragon Posted 14 March , 2003 Share Posted 14 March , 2003 Back slang is a recognised form of non-standard usage. Linguistically it is created by saying the words backwards after reversing the spelling of the whole word, which isn't quite what you're describing. It seems to be often used by children, though other social groups use it as a secret language or to mark social identity (belonging). Apparently thieves use it and so, it seems, do shopkeepers (though I've never come across examples of this, and my specialism is language). It's also sometimes used as a game. This is from memory. I will look around and see whether I find anything more specific. Gwyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Sweeney Posted 14 March , 2003 Share Posted 14 March , 2003 Dave, Your first example of Back Slang is what is called "Pig Latin". Very common used to today as a pseudo secret language particularly by kids. Unfortunately just about every knows it or has used it. There are actually on-line translators. Pig latin goes way back at least the 18th century. It's not any specific form of soldier slang, in fact it probably fooled no officer unless really dense. In piggish (with an ay instead of a)= Ouryay irstfay exampleway ofway Ackbay Angslay isway atwhay isway alledcay "Igpay Atinlay". Eryvay ommoncay usedway otay odaytay asway away eudopsay ecretsay anguagelay articularlypay ybay idskay. Unfortunatelyway ustjay aboutway everyway owsknay itway orway ashay usedway itway. Erethay areway actuallyway onway-inelay anslatorstray. Igpay atinlay oesgay ayway ackbay atway eastlay ethay 18thay enturycay. It'sway otnay anyway ecificspay ormfay ofway oldiersay angslay, inway actfay itway obablypray ooledfay onay officerway. Joe Sweeney Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Hill 60 Posted 14 March , 2003 Share Posted 14 March , 2003 Ouryay irstfay exampleway ofway Ackbay Angslay isway atwhay isway alledcay "Igpay Atinlay". etc Give me a break !! I've just started learning gaelic and that's bad enough , and now you introduce me to this 'new' language !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry Carter Posted 14 March , 2003 Share Posted 14 March , 2003 I think they still use backslang in the Birmingham markets, or used to. I heard it on a local history radio programme. getting back to the first item in this topic. "Charley's War" the WW1 comic strip that was in the 'Battle' comic during the 1970's. I was an avid reader... my younger brothers comics, of course! Just a matter of interest. A few years ago the strip was published as a graphic novel in two volumes. I remember browsing through them at a comic store in Brum. I wish I had bought them. At the moment there are the two 'Charleys War' books on ebay. There is still a few days to go, but one is at around $70 the other $40!!!! Regards Terry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CROONAERT Posted 14 March , 2003 Author Share Posted 14 March , 2003 At the moment there are the two 'Charleys War' books on ebay. There is still a few days to go, but one is at around $70 the other $40!! Glad I kept mine!!!! Incidentally,both volumes only cover a portion of the Somme battle.There's probably another 1000 pages that didn't get published in this form. Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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