Book Two

This method also is set forth in a number of rules by Schwenter, Bk.I.mod.11. To have called attention to it here is, I think, enough for our purpose.

        Alteration of Speech through Interpolation is accomplished by the Substitution of certain words, by the Interjection of certain letters, or by the Apposition of several Non-significant words. By Substitution Interpolation takes place when, the vernacular being used, the speech is interlarded with low and vulgar words.  This jargon is called by the Italians, according to Cardano, De Rer. Variet., Bk. XII Calman;  we Germans call it Rothwelsch, or Betler-Latein.  See, on this subject, Munster, Brant, Gesner, Megiserus, and, latest of all, Schwenter, Bk.I.c.7.  By Interjection, Interpolation takes place in three ways: (1) By simple method, when after each vowel a consonant is inserted, followed by the vowel itself repeated, as Pabateder, for Pater. This device is ascribed to Thurneisser. (2) When the word is cut and divided into its several syllables, and to each syllable is prefixed the spirant H, and suffixed the syllable ES. As regards what is here said of the letter H, if the syllable of the word thus divided begins with a vowel, the letter is in that case simply prefixed to the syllable without further change. If, however, the syllable begins with a consonant or two or more consonants, the consonant or consonants must in order to allow of the more easy addition of the letter H, be thrown to the end of the syllable. For example, take the word Invocabimus; thus we will divide into five syllables, and it will be transformed into the following: Hines, hoves, haces, hibes, husmes. In this example, the second syllable and the three following syllables, beginning each with a consonant, are changed by having the consonant in each case thrown to the end of the syllable. Thus Glauben is changed to Haugles henbes; Schatz to Hatzsches; Schreiben to Heischres henbes; Schlafen to Haschles henfes. (3) Lastly, when the first letter of the word is thrown to the end of the word, and the letter E or the syllable EN is suffixed; e.g. Kom hero, yielding Omke erohe; or Wiltu mit mir gehn, yielding Iltuwen itmen irmen ehngen; see Schwenter, Bk.I. mod. 12, 13. Finally, Interpolation of Speech by Apposition takes place when among the Significant words there are intermingled a number of others, the Significant words being marked by some distinguishing note, so that these may be recognized and alone taken notice of. For example, that word alone is Significant which follows the mention of some animal, or which is the first or the last word of each of a series of brief sentences.(1) Examples are given by Schwenter Bk. I. c.6. If, however, the person who is to be made the recipient of the secret is withdrawn from our sight, we may then reveal the secret, without suspicion, by means of a song, the words being arranged in accordance with the plan indicated above. See Schwenter, Bk. XVII.c.17, and, below, Bk.V@ii. c.2. (Bk.7.ch.2 has writing about a song).

            It remains that I should touch upon Alteration through Innovation. Such Alteration takes place when, instead of the language to which we are accustomed, we make use of a foreign tongue. This Mode is not over-safe, and there can, therefore, be no profit to us in lingering over it. See Bk. VII.c.16.

            So much for secret-making in speech. We come now to secret-making through signs, and these are signs Customary, signs Conventional, and signs Artificial.

            By Customary signs I mean those signs which in and through themselves, by a kind of custom, without any private agreement, and without any form of symbolization of letters,