ROTWELSCH

Currently am reading this book: The Language of Thieves by Martin Puchner, that introduced me to the fascinating history of a secret language called Rotwelsch.

I stumbled upon it while researching my own possible Romani history. I love the idea that this secret language was developed and used by marginalised and travelling people on such large scale and over so many years. In a way it helped them to survive and fly under the radar of the law but also prejudice.

It speaks to me, finding alternative ways to stand up for yourself or others in a society where there seems to be no place for you and/or in a situation where you are not heard and it feels dangerous to express yourself.

source: http://www.martinpuchner.com/language-of-thieves.html

"When Martin Puchner was a child, tramps would turn up at his family home in Nuremberg to be fed by his mother. His father explained that they were drawn by a zinken (sign) associated with Rotwelsch, a language spoken by vagrants and criminals whose name is derived from two terms: Rot (beggar) and Welsch (incomprehensible). The zinken, a cross within a circle carved into the house’s foundation stone, told them that lechem (bread) could be had there.”

“Centuries ago in Middle Europe, a coded language appeared, scrawled in graffiti and spoken only by people who were “wiz” (in the know). This hybrid language, dubbed Rotwelsch, facilitated survival for people in flight--whether escaping persecution or just down on their luck. It was a language of the road associated with vagabonds, travelers, Jews, and thieves that blended words from Yiddish, Hebrew, German, Romani, Czech, and other European languages and was rich in expressions for police, jail, or experiencing trouble, such as “being in a pickle.” This renegade language unsettled those in power, who responded by trying to stamp it out, none more vehemently than the Nazis. “

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rotwelsch

Rotwelsch is a secret language, a cant or thieves' argot, spoken by groups (primarily marginalized groups) in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, and Bohemia. The language is based on a mix of Low German, Yiddish, Hebrew, Romani, Latin, and Czech with a High German substrate

Rotwelsch was first named by Martin Luther in his preface of Liber Vagatorum in the 16th century. Rot means "beggar" while welsch means "incomprehensible": thus, rotwelsch signifies the incomprehensible cant of beggars

Some examples

Schokelmei = (coffee)

schenigeln = (to work)
Krauter = Chef eines Handwerkbetriebes (master artisan)
Kreuzspanne = (waistcoat)
Wolkenschieber = (barber)
Stenz = (walking stick)
fechten = (to beg)
Platte machen = (to seek lodging)
Puhler = (policeman)

From: Muscle-Adolf & Co, The Ring-Clubs and Organised Crime in Berlin- by Peter Feraru, Argon, Berlin 1995.

abfaßen = to arrest (literally 'touch off', secondary: 'to write out')
acheln = to eat (from Hebrew)
ackern = to go acquire; to go off the line (literally 'to till or cultivate')
den Affen kaufen = to get drunk (literally 'to buy the ape')
alle gehn = to be arrested; to vanish into thin air
assern = to testify against someone, to 'betray' them
aufmucken = to revolt against orders
auftalgen = to hang (literally 'to grease up')
der Getalgente = the hanged man
balldowern = to spy out; to make inquiries about (perhaps from Hebrew Ba'al Davar = one who brings an accusation)
ballmischpet = examining magistrate (from Hebrew Ba'al Mishpat = Master of Law)
der Bau = the prison or penitentiary (literally 'the lodge')
Bauer = a stupid simple-minded person (literally 'peasant' or 'farmer')
begraben sein = to be hunted for a long time (literally 'to be buried')
bei jom = by day (Hebrew yom = day)
bei leile = by night (Hebrew laila = night)
der Bello = the prison toilet
beramschen = to swindle
berappen = to pay up or fork over money (literally 'to plaster a wall'); also possibly from Malayan through Dutch: berapa means 'how much?' (what does it cost), now integrated in Dutch as berappen: to pay.
betuke = discreet or imperceptible (perhaps from Hebrew betokh = within)
die Bim = the tramway
bleffen (or anbleffen) = to threaten. Possibly from Dutch: blaffen: to bark (like a dog).
der Bock, from Romani bokh = hunger, coll. Bock haben = to be up for something.
Bombe = coffee glass (literally 'bombshell')
brennen (literally 'to burn') = Extortion, but also to collect the "thieves' portion" with companions. The analogy between distilling spirits (Branntweinbrennen) and taking a good gulp of the portion (Anteil) is obvious.

MSLM

WALK