Dent's Modern Tribes: The Secret Languages of Britain

by Susie Dent

Did you know that . . . a soldier's biggest social blunder is called jack brew - making yourself a cuppa without making one for anyone else? That twitchers have an expression for a bird that can't be identified - LBJ (the letters stand for Little Brown Job)? Or that builders call plastering the ceiling doing Lionel Richie's dancefloor? Susie Dent does.Ever wondered why football managers all speak the same way, what a cabbie calls the Houses of Parliament, or how ticket inspectors discreetly request back-up? We are surrounded by hundreds of tribes, each speaking their own distinct slanguage of colourful words, jokes and phrases, honed through years of conversations on the battlefield, in A&E, backstage, or at ten-thousand feet in the air. Susie Dent has spent years interviewing hundreds of professionals, hobbyists and enthusiasts, and the result is an idiosyncratic phrasebook like no other. From the Freemason's handshake to the publican's banter, Dent's Modern Tribes takes us on a whirlwind tour of Britain, decoding its secret languages and, in the process, finds out what really makes us all tick.

Genres: Nonfiction, Language, Linguistics, Reference, Audiobook, History

337 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 20, 2016

About the author

Dent was educated at the Marist Convent in Ascot, an independent Roman Catholic day school. She went on to Somerville College, Oxford for her B.A. in modern languages, then to Princeton University for her master's degree in German.

Dent is serves as the resident lexicographer and adjudicator for the letters rounds on long-running British game show Countdown. At the time she began work on Countdown in 1992, she had just started working for the Oxford University Press on producing English dictionaries, having previously worked on bilingual dictionaries.

Reviews

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don’t want to belong to any club that would have me as a member. – Groucho Marx.

Becoming a member of a club has benefits, exclusive access to people and ideas, acknowledgement of a certain point in your life. With that though comes an inside knowledge too. This is also replicated with professions too, that if you become a cabbie, or a barista or undertaker that you learn the tricks of the trade and most importantly the language too.

In this exploration of the language of tribes, Dent has spent hours interviewing people from a complete variety of professions, from the armed forces and police, butchers, bankers, cabin crew and even some of the most secretive the masons and the spooks. But there are others too, so we will learn how the meaning of the words that skateboarders use, how to sound like you know what you are talking about when you’re at a rave, or if you prefer your dancing to be a little more leisurely the terms that you will need to use when Morris Dancing.

In this book, Dent uncovers all sorts of words and phrases that you wouldn’t normally hear in day to day life and if you did hear them, you wouldn’t get the meaning. There are some great insults in here too, so if you want to know what a camper, funt or a who an organ donor is, then you need to read this book.

[Thomas Beeston · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ken Bruce can speak with a Popmaster guest for 30 seconds and sound like he's known them all his life. He knows enough about every part of the country, enough about every occupation and hobby, where less experienced radio hosts move swiftly on at their ignorance being there for all to hear. I'd love to be like Ken - able to strike a conversation with anyone from any profession, beyond the three things they're always asked - but this book has taught me that it would be an exhausting exercise.

Modern Tribes is well-intentioned but I found myself glossing over the numerous specific lists of terminologies and phrases, not really taking anything in. I need the "why", the background and the reasons, which is what I like in Susie Dent so much... I'm not put off from reading her other books, because there's enough evidence here (and in Dictionary Corner of course) that she can be fascinating with her explanation of etymology, but the scope of this would necessitate a 1200-page book for me to take it all in

[Steve Cann · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was so good to meet the lovely Susie last year at her one-woman show, and she very kindly signed my copy of this book afterwards, as well a posing for a photo with me.

I’ve admired her years, and thoroughly enjoyed her talk, which expanded on many aspects of what’s contained in this book.

With Modern Tribes, Susie has painstakingly researched all the in-speak and slang used by the various ‘tribes’ of our society - anything from gamers to teachers, or airline staff to spies!

They all have their various coded language and slang, some of which dates back centuries - while others are more recent.

It all makes for a fascinating read - especially on those subjects where you might find you’re more familiar, and could add a few of your own! Susie doesn’t claim this to be an exhaustive list of every ‘tribal’ language there is - but it’s a breezy look at the most common idioms and ones that appealed to her.

The book is grouped by ‘tribe’, and reads a bit like a rather unconventional and often very funny phrasebook.

My partner and I enjoyed reading it aloud a bedtime - and also taking it to the pub for some fun reading too.
My favorite phrase? That has to be ‘Sharon Stone’s Jumpseat’!
Read the book and find out more about this gem - and a whole lot more besides!

[Gareth · Rating 1 out of 5]

I would love to have liked this one more and maybe I would have done if it didn't look at some subcultures to which I belong. After the intro I eagerly skipped ahead to the two subgroups I feel that I am affiliated with - the gamers and the techies (I can't remember the actual title for each of those but you'll find them readily enough, I'm sure). And that's where my issues started. Neither chapter seemed at all representative of either group. There was some stuff I'd never encountered (and I guess could readily but found in fringe elements I've not encountered) but the stuff that I had was so horribly badly represented in the explanations that I felt I couldn't trust the book's assertions on the language of any of the groups I wasn't so familiar with.

A great topic for a book but this is not a great book on the topic.

[Sian Powell · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting read with some crossover with the 'Etymologicon'. There were some fascinating insights into some of the language used with different parts of society. However, I listened to this on audio and I found the words came to thick and fast to take in almost. I think this would be a good book to have to dip in and out of and take time to absorb some of the unusual words and facts in it.

[Chels Patterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dent’s Modern Tribes by Susie Dent is impressive deep drive into lingo of so many secrets conversations of certain tribes. Dent focuses, naturally as an Anglo-linguist, on UK English tribes such as Freemasons, publishers, clergy, teachers, magicians and navy.

Not only does Dent string so many of these together in sentences and paragraphs with such ease and dexterity that it’s a kin to watching a juggler juggle on a tightrope, over shark infested waters. It’s just a joy!

The history of many words is fascinating, such as the name of the Tank, routed in the secret code name that was used when the machine was being built the “Water Carrier”. Or for instance Lower Case and UpperCase refers to the cases capital and minuscule of print blocks were held in.

Although not all words are explored so deeply there is a wide range of words to tickle anyone’s interest from many tribes. The military Acronyms were my favourite EGYPT: Eager to Grab Your Pretty Tits or BURMA: Be Undressed/Upstairs Ready My Angle. Or the reverse saying to someone “There We Are Then” basically calling someone a TWAT.

The book is not the greatest for all ages or sensibilities. It’s not PG. But it is a perfect audio book for a long drive. Full of laughs and little stores, it’s more similar to a podcast than a resource book. Stopping and starting are not a problem. Because except for the whole book being about language none of the chapter rely on chronological reading.

You know what it’s a perfect bathroom book too. Or a wait for something book. Just short entertaining but not life changing unless like me you plan on using Burma or There We Are Then as a secret code from now on.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funny, informative and very well written!

Any lover of words needs to have this book in their arsenal, it's chock full of interesting tidbits from bygone days as well as including some of the more modern phrases that have worked their way into everyday parlance. Including interesting facts and stories to back up the words, this is almost as useful as a foreign language phrasebook!

The book is split into what Dent refers to as "tribes" within our society. Each of these groups of individuals comes with their own cache of words that they use without the public actually knowing what they are saying. These codes can be quite obvious or they can be extremely subtle. Some of these "tribes" such as the emergency services, also use a lot of "black humour" which is also explained by Dent in these pages.

All in all, this is a highly informative book, well written by one of the more beloved lexicographers that the UK has. I would thoroughly recommend this book to anyone with an interest in languages or anyone who just wants to learn how to eavesdrop successfully!

[Mark Sohn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'd have given this one Five Stars had I not known so many of the words and terms it brings us beforehand; Dent, the 'Dictionary Corner' woman of 'Countdown' fame (And a long-term crush of mine; she happens to be simply breathtaking, intelligent and beautiful) has scoured the land for all sorts of parochial oddities. Going from profession to profession and through various British hobbies and pastimes, the Author shares our mutual love of Etymology - the origin of words. Hexample?; to a Golfer, the term 'Adolf Hitler' means two shots in the Bunker. Boom-boom. Or, a Banker may refer to a 'Ninja loan'; one given to someone with No Income, No Job, No Assets. And you wonder why the World Economy crashed... All in all, a fun book and really I was being tight with the stars. Perhaps if we ever meet I could give Susie one. Star, that is...

[Sam · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was engaging at times but got a little repetitive. I enjoyed reading it whilst it was in my hands but had no desire to pick it up if I stopped reading for any reason. I had to actively encourage myself to pick it back up.
The main reason for my lack of enthusiasm, is the fact, that the layout is boring. Each chapter was set out with an overview of that “tribe” and its history, then, became a list of words most associated with that group. I could think of some more “tribes” I would have liked to seen feature, such as, stamp collectors, musicians, jockeys and quizzers.

2* read for me.

[Ffion Marsh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dent’s exposure of many languages used within Britain’s “secret tribes” was an enjoyable yet somewhat tedious read.
I can’t deny the enjoyment I had when discovering the variety of phrases I did recognise but the format reminded me of a dictionary, something which deterred me from engaging more with the content.

It isn’t all a negative review though: the pockets of wisdom littered throughout in the introductory paragraphs provided some laughs and kept some momentum going throughout.

Overall, it’s an interesting read for anyone wanting to broaden their vocabulary or master the art of eavesdropping on conversations.

[Grace Tierney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well-researched as you'd expect from a lexicographer of her stature. A few of the sections were on topics I've explored myself (I've a long-running etymology blog and several word history books) and she covers all the main bases.

I would have liked a little more detail (the sport section covers soccer, marbles, golf and cricket but rugby, racket sports, etc are missing) and at times, possibly due to space constraints, it's a list of terms with definitions which isn't the most entertaining. However it's clear that she did a huge amount of work to present this survey of British English occupation specific terminology and she should be applauded for that.

[Simon Evans · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love Susie Dent. On the telly. And especially in her terrific podcast Something Rhymes With Purple with Gyles Brandreth.

This book, however, was a bit of a chore. It's taken me two months to get through and that is because it's a 'read in bursts' book not a 'sit down and enjoy in one sitting' type of read.

All the tribes are explained before their language is laid bare and some true gems are revealed. I was, however, expecting something akin to Bill Bryson's Mother Tongue but it is a bit like reading a dictionary which is a less than stellar experience.

[Finn Cullen · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting book with many examples given of the jargons and cants of various "modern tribes" - not much in the way of analysis, but rather a phrase-book of sorts with some interesting comments on the origins and spread of terms (OMG was first used by a naval commander in 1905 and for exactly the same purpose it would be used today). Personally I would have preferred more discussion about the subject rather than it simply being a "dictionary" of sorts, but even so it was well worth the read.

[Tim Hicks · Rating 4 out of 5]

I highly recommend the reading approach we tried with this - one item per night. In our case, I'd read aloud at bedtime - all of a short entry, half of a long one.

Reading the whole thing at once, I think, would make it seem a bit sameish (<-- not a word but Susie knows what I mean).

Some were more interesting than others, of course. Some showed evidence of a deeper dive into asking people about it. But then some tribes have more members and are easier to investigate.

I know a lot of slang and idiom. This book knows a LOT more. Go for it.

[Sandy Millin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given a signed copy of this for Christmas last year, and have been working my way through it slowly over the past couple of months. I finished it this morning and found the whole thing absolutely fascinating. I particularly enjoyed it when I recognised some of the words. I agree wholeheartedly with the comments about language change too, which I often hear as an English Language teacher working abroad. Highly recommended.

[Jasmine Henry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wonderfully written and researched, as always, this provides a fascinating insight into all of the clever and sometimes unusual ways that people use language.

Unfortunately, this particular book, though it includes punworthy titles, didn't really grab me like other books by Susie Dent (who I admire quite a bit) as I found it dryer and more list-y (which I don't think is a word but should be!) than Word Perfect.

Worth a read for curious minds and budding lexicographers, though!

[Daniel Gallimore · Rating 5 out of 5]

I learnt more about contemporary British society, and how it has changed over the last forty years, from Susie Dent's magical companion than any number of op-ed pieces. My own contribution would be my late father's description of his firm's board of directors (himself included): 'a group of clapped-out lags who mismanage British [take your pick]'. The British sense of irony at least has never changed; 'clapped-out', incidentally, must come from cricket, of which my father was fond.

[Alex · Rating 1 out of 5]

I thought this would be theory for the layman but instead it's just lists of words. The lists of words for each tribe is incomplete, as is the list of tribes, not to mention lots of the definitions being a) already public knowledge b) wrong or c) completely irrelevant and disinteresting to anyone who doesn't already know them. I have absolutely no idea what the point of this book was meant to be.

[Rakie Keig · Rating 4 out of 5]

A slightly sparse overview of a few "tribes" of people, not really going into much depth on any of them, and with the occasionally patronising tone of a person lecturing young people about their own dialects. Still, fun to read and would make a fantastic present for a parent who wants to annoy the crap out of their kids by learning some cool new slang.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

Glad to have this. I can understand the complaints of it being too broad to go into great detail and too much of a big list to be hugely entertaining but it's a great starting point for looking into any of the "tribes" in question because the notes of where their terminology originates provides slices of history, geography and anthropology as you go.

[Leonie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting to read all these kinds of slang different groups use.
I also recognise some of the slang which is very funny to see something you
think is not that well known is also written down in this book.

[Marianne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Took me a while to get through this - it's not the kind of book you pick up and read all the way through in a couple of sittings. It was an interesting read for the most part, showing how flexible language can be in all its various settings and niches.

[Karen Plummer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lexicographer Susie Dent makes the history of words and word usage both interesting and fun. She has grouped people into categories with multiple "tribes" included such as The Great Outdoors (twitchers, ramblers, etc.), Emergency Services (Police, EMTs), The High Street (Publicans, Waiters, etc.), The Power of Words (journalists, publishers, etc.), and one of my favorite chapters That's Entertainment (actors, comedians, etc.). Each chapter includes lots of general background information about each tribe plus lists of some of the common words or phrases used by that tribe. Some of the terms left me perplexed, others made me laugh, and still others just made me go "Ahhhhh, that's what it means!"

[Diane · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a terrible book. Parts were certainly interesting. It just wasn't what I was hoping for, I guess. As far as a book that teaches you about the language British marble players or bird watchers might use, it's not too bad.

[Dave Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun and interesting as usual from Susie. Perhaps a bit on the skim-lightly-over-the-surface side; and certainly easier to read dipping-in-and-out style than attempting to plough through cover to cover.

[Jamie Skinner · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book, but it felt like reading a dictionary at times. Incredibly boring.

It’s somewhat interesting that every sector of people in the UK have their own glossary of words, but I am not sure that this is the best way to present those words.

[Kate Millin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this interesting most of the time, but also an uncomfortable read. In many of the professions the secret languages are to protect the hearers, particularly the word used when a fire is found. Surely it is better not to induce panic ?

[Speno · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not normally one to skip pages but with this I did. I suppose on the plus side it is informative but it's a very deep dive more suited for geeks. Felt like a long list of words with attached explanations and just not that enjoyable for me.

[Isla Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this. Its an easy book to read a bit at a time, its not full of complicated, long paragraphs. I liked reading and thinking about the various groups within society and learning all the slang type terms used by said groups. An intriguing and insightful read. Recommended.

[Margaret McCulloch-Keeble · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting little book for word nerds like me. One or two of the 'tribes' and their lingo is a little London-centric and the young-people speak is quite dated now (the book is a few years old) but I loved the Yes Minister references.