Have you ever been baffled by a conversation between devoted Taylor Swift fans or overheard cryptic banter between London cabbies? A fascinating new book promises to be your decoder ring for the hidden languages of over fifty modern tribes.
The Lexicon That Binds and Excludes
Ben Schott's latest work, 'Schott's Significa', delves into the private worlds of jargon, signs, and signals developed by groups ranging from Swifties and Las Vegas gamblers to bartenders, incels, and dog walkers. Described as 'a miscellany of secret languages', the book explores how these specialised vocabularies serve a dual purpose: to strengthen bonds within the group while deliberately keeping outsiders in the dark.
This follows Schott's renowned tradition of compiling obscure but useful information, now updated for the internet age. Interestingly, these nuanced linguistic codes are precisely the kind of detail that often eludes even powerful search engines and AI chatbots.
Test Your Knowledge of Modern Slang
How well can you navigate this landscape of insider terms? Based on the book, here is a selection of ten words from different subcultures. Can you guess their correct meanings?
1. TAYLOR SWIFT FANS: 'Triskaidekaphilia'
Is it a) A love for friendship bracelets, b) A love for the number 13, c) A love for streaming Taylor Swift songs when asleep, or d) A love for unreleased Taylor Swift songs?
2. LAS VEGAS GAMBLERS: 'Donk'
Does this refer to a) A player who doesn't tip, b) A player who can't afford to lose, c) An unskilled player, or d) An inexperienced player?
3. INCELS: 'Wizard'
Is this a) A man with platonic female friendships, b) A man who has had sex over 50 times, c) A man still a virgin at 30, or d) A man who never marries?
4. DOG WALKERS: 'Cujo'
Would you use this for a) A very loyal dog, b) A very exotic breed, c) A very aggressive dog, or d) A very docile dog?
5. BARTENDERS: 'Campers'
This label fits a) Patrons who take drinks outside, b) Patrons who have paid but won't leave, c) Patrons too drunk to walk, or d) Patrons stuck in the toilet.
From Coffee Shops to City Streets
6. STARBUCKS STAFF: 'Gertrude'
Is this a) A female boss, b) A staffer who writes wrong names on cups, c) A customer who spills drinks, or d) An endlessly dissatisfied female customer?
7. GRAFFITI WRITERS: 'Burner'
Does it mean a) Paint with volatile chemicals, b) An exceptionally impressive piece, c) An artist who paints over others' work, or d) An artist hiding materials?
8. LONDON BLACK CABBIES: 'Oranges and lemons'
This phrase refers to a) Main roads, b) Multiple male passengers together, c) Bumps in the road, or d) Hailstones.
9. INFLUENCERS: 'Face card'
Is it a) A profile photo, b) A female influencer seeking male attention, c) An influencer whose looks are as valuable as a credit card, or d) Fake impersonator accounts?
10. GYM-GOERS: 'Lunk'
This describes a) A very heavy dumbbell, b) Sweat on equipment, c) A loud, rude, muscle-bound gym-goer, or d) An interfering staff member.
The Answers Revealed
So, how did you fare? Here are the correct definitions from Schott's Significa:
Triskaidekaphilia is indeed b) A love for the number 13. Swift's affinity for the number is well-known; she was born on 13th December and her first album went gold in 13 weeks.
Donk means c) An unskilled player in Las Vegas gambling circles.
Wizard in incel terminology is c) A man who is still a virgin at 30.
Cujo, borrowed from Stephen King's rabid dog, is used by dog walkers for c) A very aggressive dog.
Campers are the bane of bartenders: b) Patrons who have stopped ordering or paid but show no signs of leaving.
Gertrude is Starbucks code for d) An endlessly dissatisfied female customer. The male equivalent is a 'Gertdude' or 'Gerard'.
Burner in graffiti culture signifies b) An especially impressive piece of graffiti, one that metaphorically 'burns' the competition.
Oranges and lemons, for London cabbies, refers to a) Main roads, based on the colours used for A- and B-roads on classic A-Z maps.
Face card describes c) An influencer whose looks are as valuable as a credit card.
Lunk is the gym-goer's term for c) An obnoxious, muscly gym-goer who is loud, rude and drops their weights.
Schott's book ultimately reveals a world where language constantly evolves to create invisible walls and warm hearths within our complex society. It proves that even in a hyper-connected world, secret codes are alive and well.
