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This book is about language designed to mean what it does not seem to mean. Ciphers and codes conceal messages and protect secrets. Symbol and magic hide meanings to imperil or delight. Languages made to baffle and confuse let insiders talk openly without being understood by those beyond the circle. Barry Blake looks in depth at these and many more. He explores the history and uses of the slangs and argots of schools and trades. He traces the histories of centuries-old cants such asthose used by sailors and criminals, among them polari, the mix of Italian, Yiddish, and slang spoken once among

Historical linguistics. --- Ciphers. --- Cryptography. --- Cryptanalysis --- Cryptology --- Secret writing --- Steganography --- Signs and symbols --- Symbolism --- Writing --- Ciphers --- Data encryption (Computer science) --- Codes --- Contractions --- Abbreviations --- Code names --- Cryptography --- Diachronic linguistics --- Dynamic linguistics --- Evolutionary linguistics --- Language and languages --- Language and history --- Linguistics --- History --- Historical linguistics --- language --- ciphers and codes --- concealed mesages --- secrets --- symbols --- magic --- cults --- religions --- culture