LANGUAGE AND DEVIANT BEHAVIOR

• NCJ Number: 14735
• Journal: Criminologist Volume: 8 Issue: 30 Dated: (AUTUMN 1973) Pages: 13-20
• Author(s): P J GALANTE
• Date Published: 1973
• Length: 8 pages
• Corporate Author: Forensic Publishing Co
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United Kingdom
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS.

Annotation

VOCABULARY USED BY LEGALLY DEVIANT GROUPS WAS EXAMINED TO DETECT WHAT VARIOUS TERMS WERE AN IDENTIFICATION CHARACTERISTIC OF DIFFERENT CRIMINAL GROUPS, AND TO SEE WHAT INFLUENCE THIS VOCABULARY MIGHT HAVE ON BEHAVIOR.

Abstract

PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED WERE RAPIDLY CHANGING MEANINGS OF THE VOCABULARY OF UNDERWORLD GROUPS AND DIFFERENT MEANINGS ATTRIBUTED TO THE SAME WORD BY VARIOUS GROUPS. THE COMPARISON OF DEVIANT GROUPS' VOCABULARY WAS ACCOMPLISHED BY ATTEMPTING TO ISOLATE IDENTICAL OR SIMILAR WORDS AND TERMS USED BY SUCH GROUPS AS DRUG ABUSERS, PROFESSIONAL THIEVES, COUNTERFEITERS, AND SHOPLIFTERS. THE AUTHOR CONCLUDES THAT EACH DEVIANT GROUP USES A DISTINCTIVE VOCABULARY, AND GIVES EXAMPLES OF USAGE OF VARIOUS TERMS BY THE GROUPS. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)