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required information； owing to their great ignorance； the shortness
of their memories； or rather the state of bewilderment to which
their minds are brought by any question which tends to bring their
reasoning faculties into action； though not unfrequently the very
words which have been in vain required of them will； a minute
subsequently； proceed inadvertently from their mouths。
We now take leave of their language。 When wishing to praise the
proficiency of any individual in their tongue； they are in the
habit of saying； 'He understands the seven jargons。' In the Gospel
which we have printed in this language； and in the dictionary which
we have compiled； we have endeavoured； to the utmost of our
ability； to deserve that compliment； and at all times it will
afford us sincere and heartfelt pleasure to be informed that any
Gitano； capable of appreciating the said little works； has
observed； whilst reading them or hearing them read： It is clear
that the writer of these books understood
THE SEVEN JARGONS。
ON ROBBER LANGUAGE； OR； AS IT IS CALLED IN SPAIN； GERMANIA
'So I went with them to a music booth； where they made me almost
drunk with gin； and began to talk their FLASH LANGUAGE； which I did
not understand。' … Narrative of the Exploits of Henry Simms；
executed at Tyburn； 1746。
'Hablaronse los dos en Germania； de lo qual resulto darme un
abraco； y ofrecerseme。' … QUEVEDO。 Vida dal gran Tacano。
HAVING in the preceding article endeavoured to afford all necessary
information concerning the Rommany； or language used by the Gypsies
amongst themselves； we now propose to turn our attention to a
subject of no less interest； but which has hitherto never been
treated in a manner calculated to lead to any satisfactory result
or conclusion； on the contrary； though philosophic minds have been
engaged in its consideration； and learned pens have not disdained
to occupy themselves with its details； it still remains a singular
proof of the errors into which the most acute and laborious writers
are apt to fall； when they take upon themselves the task of writing
on matters which cannot be studied in the closet； and on which no
information can be received by mixing in the society of the wise；
the lettered； and the respectable； but which must be investigated
in the fields； and on the borders of the highways； in prisons； and
amongst the dregs of society。 Had the latter system been pursued
in the matter now before us； much clearer； more rational； and more
just ideas would long since have been entertained respecting the
Germania； or language of thieves。
In most countries of Europe there exists； amongst those who obtain
their existence by the breach of the law； and by preying upon the
fruits of the labours of the quiet and orderly portion of society；
a particular jargon or dialect； in which the former discuss their
schemes and plans of plunder； without being in general understood
by those to whom they are obnoxious。 The name of this jargon
varies with the country in which it is spoken。 In Spain it is
called 'Germania'； in France； 'Argot'； in Germany； 'Rothwelsch；' or
Red Italian； in Italy； 'Gergo'； whilst in England it is known by
many names； for example； 'cant； slang； thieves' Latin；' etc。 The
most remarkable circumstance connected with the history of this
jargon is； that in all the countries in which it is spoken； it has
invariably； by the authors who have treated of it； and who are
numerous； been confounded with the Gypsy language； and asserted to
be the speech of those wanderers who have so long infested Europe
under the name of Gitanos； etc。 How far this belief is founded in
justice we shall now endeavour to show； with the premise that
whatever we advance is derived； not from the assertions or opinions
of others； but from our own observation； the point in question
being one which no person is capable of solving； save him who has
mixed with Gitanos and thieves； … not with the former merely or the
latter； but with both。
We have already stated what is the Rommany or language of the
Gypsies。 We have proved that when properly spoken it is to all
intents and purposes entitled to the appellation of a language； and
that wherever it exists it is virtually the same； that its origin
is illustrious； it being a daughter of the Sanscrit； and in
consequence in close connection with some of the most celebrated
languages of the East； although it at present is only used by the
most unfortunate and degraded of beings； wanderers without home and
almost without country； as wherever they are found they are
considered in the light of foreigners and interlopers。 We shall
now state what the language of thieves is； as it is generally
spoken in Europe； after which we shall proceed to analyse it
according to the various countries in which it is used。
The dialect used for their own peculiar purposes amongst thieves is
by no means entitled to the appellation of a language； but in every
sense to that of a jargon or gibberish； it being for the most part
composed of words of the native language of those who use it；
according to the particular country； though invariably in a meaning
differing more or less from the usual and received one； and for the
most part in a metaphorical sense。 Metaphor and allegory； indeed；
seem to form the nucleus of this speech； notwithstanding that other
elements are to be distinguished； for it is certain that in every
country where it is spoken； it contains many words differing from
the language of that country； and which may either be traced to
foreign tongues； or are of an origin at which； in many instances；
it is impossible to arrive。 That which is most calculated to
strike the philosophic mind when considering this dialect； is
doubtless the fact of its being formed everywhere upon the same
principle … that of metaphor； in which point all the branches
agree； though in others they differ as much from each other as the
languages on which they are founded； for example； as the English
and German from the Spanish and Italian。 This circumstance
naturally leads to the conclusion that the robber language has not
arisen fortuitously in the various countries where it is at present
spoken； but that its origin is one and the same； it being probably
invented by the outlaws of one particular country； by individuals
of which it was； in course of time； carried to others； where its
principles； if not its words； were adopted； for upon no other
supposition can we account for its general metaphorical character
in regions various and distant。 It is； of course； impossible to
st