Captain Barry Thompson
09086-08721
Each walk of life has its own language, jargon that sets it apart from those who aren’t in the know; some words and phrases enter the general vocabulary, whilst others remain a mystery to the world at large.
As the sub-title - The customs and language of the British Merchant Seaman 1875-1975 – indicates, this is an exploration of one of these seemingly arcane ways of speaking, but it’s also an insight into life at sea and how it has altered during the past 100+ years. Not only are various nautical expressions explained, but also the common parlance of the diverse onboard areas (deck, engine, medical, pursers’ office), those associated with the sea (people, places, institutions, shipping companies) and types of ships, terms that are described clearly for the cognoscenti and uninitiated alike.
A fascinating mixture of social history and colloquialisms, as Captain Thompson explains, the terms and expressions are grouped in appropriate chapters, with customs and practices using “professional” language, followed by the idiomatic usage. This is an absorbing book and one which will prove of interest to seafarers past and present – and may assist their friends and family in knowing what they’re talking about!