Carny Lingo

[Grant Barrett]

On Jul 12, 2005, at 17:58, Benjamin Zimmer wrote:
> So in ASCII-ized IPA, "ciazarn" is pronounced [ki at zArn] (or
> [ki at zA:n] for non-rhotics), namely "carn" [kArn] (or [kA:n]) with
> an infixed [i at z]. Is it fair to assume that the diphthong in [i at z]
> is evidence that the pig-Latin developed in the South, where an "-
> izz-" /Iz/ infix would be tensed to [i at z] according to the Southern
> Shift?

The Lexicon of Trade Jargon materials have a cite for this infix.
It's not an antedating, but it is valuable to this discussion because
it puts the infix in a different milieu.

[start quote]

"Jewelry Auctioneers' Jargon Obtained From Auctioneers and Jewelers
on 42nd Street and 14th Street":

Bleeazow the geeazee—a form of pig latin used by the
auctioneers in talking to each other. This expression means "blow the
gee" i.e. get rid of the crowd. The pig latin is formed by putting
the sound "ee-a-ze" in the center of each word that is to be
disguised. "Ceeazome" is 'come.' "Reeazummbers" is 'rubbers.'

[end quote]

The typed pages are dated only by a penciled "1938-39" which, given
that it appears identically across many pages in the files, was
probably added by a single person at the end of the project and does
not represent the date those particularly terms were collected.
Generally, however, little in the LOTJ files is earlier than 1937.

Grant Barrett
gbarrett at worldnewyork.org