The Language of the Mafia Essay -- Exploratory Essays Research Papers

The Language of the MafiaMobspeak is a language that grows out of secrecy, and who can be more privy than the Mafia? The anti-social nature of the Mob is the perfect breeding ground for an Antilanguage, which is, according to M. A. K. Halliday, a language that develops out of an antisociety which stands as a mode of resistance to the society at bottom which it exists (Butler 1). In his 1976 article, Halliday suggests that in these societies, a type of language forms in an effort to exclude outsiders for various reasons. One striking reason for the existence of an antilanguage is to hide the activities of the group. Halliday gives narrate for this claim through the existence of Elizabethan thieves cant, a form of communication derived in the Calcuttan underworld that thieves use to speak to one another without upkeep of incriminating themselves. Similarly, the Mafia -- which is often the tar restore of FBI wire-taps -- requires its own thieves cant. The Mob constantly tries to hid e its activities from the authorities. One way to accomplish this goal is to use somewhat cryptic vocabulary. For instance, there are over twenty words for the verb to kill. If someone were to disrespect The Family somebody might do a piece of work on him. He could get whacked, erased, burned, clipped, iced, or hit -- just to name a few. In order to have a full understanding of the Mafias unique use of language it is required to realize the context in which it is used. The Mafias major business is providing protection for merchants in their territory. Basically, they insure that no other criminals will give any of their clients trouble. However, when anything comes under impede protection, the Mafia considers itself its owner. They do not offer... ...English. Virtually everything the Mafia does has an impact on its language. Many defining characteristics of Mobspeak spawn from the illegal activities of the organization. They speak in codes due(p) to a requisite for secrecy. The same applies in their unreserved overuse of profanity -- another way of expressing power. Their linguistic characteristics are a reflection of their roguish behaviour and lifestyle. Overall, the language of the mafia is unique in that employs Hallidays ideas of an antilanguage in a modern sense. Sources CitedButler, Todd. Exploring the Antilanguage of Gangster Rap. The Secol Review V. 19 (Spring 1995) 1-24 Le Vien, Douglas, Jr. and Juliet Papa. The Mafia Handbook. in the buff York Penguin Books, 1993 Pieggi, Nicholas. Wiseguy. New York Simon and Schuster, 1986 Pieggi, Nicholas. Casino. New York Simon and Schuster, 1995