The language of thieves and vagabonds

Más información sobre el libro

This volume analyzes the primary dictionaries and glossaries of canting language, the jargon used by thieves and vagabonds, from the 17th and 18th centuries. While previous research has focused on earlier publications, particularly from the Elizabethan era, this work aims to explore the lesser-studied canting dictionaries that emerged later. Chapters 3 to 10 delve into the major works on canting published during this period. The first two chapters introduce the investigation by examining the significant rise in vagabonds and criminals in England from a sociohistorical perspective and reviewing 16th-century literature about the underworld. The following eight chapters provide a detailed analysis of key canting works from the latter part of the 17th century through the entire 18th century, identifying the unique features of each publication, the methods used by authors in compiling their dictionaries or glossaries, and the potential sources of their entries. This analysis aims to assess the novelty and relevance of each contribution to the field. The final chapter discusses the evolution of the term 'cant' during the specified period.