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The Language of 'A ClockworkOrange'
The novel 'A Clockwork Orange' is written in a fictional futuristic teendialect called Nadsat. This is composed of Russian, slavic gypsy slang,mixed together with cockney slang and normal English.
Some American editions of the book included a glossary of all these words.However, the Author, Anthony Burgess disagreed with this, he felt that theintelligent reader should be able to make sense of the words from theirrepeated use and from the context which surrounds them. (Therby subliminallyindoctrinating the reader, in a manner which ressembles the way, Alex, thelead character in the book is himself indoctrinated.)
However, for those without the patience, here is a list of the most commonlyused Nadsat words.
Nadsat - English Dictionary
bog - god
britvah - straight razor
cal - dirt/ stuff
cancers - cigarettes
chai - tea
cutter - money
deng - money
devotchka - woman
droog - friend
glassies - eyes
goloss - voice
govoreeting - speaking
groodies - breasts
gulliver - head
horrorshow - good or wicked
konozh - flicknife
litso - face
loveted - arrested or broughtinto custody
malenky - little
mesto - place esp. bar or shop)
millicents - policemen
moloko - milk
nadsat - teenagers or theirlanguage
nogas - legs or feet
oddy knocky - on your own /by yourself
platties - clothes
poogly - afraid or scared
pretty polly - money
ptitsa - girl
rabbit - to work
rookers - arms or hands
rot - mouth
skorry - quick or fast
slooshy - to listen or hear
slovos - words
tolchock - to hit or kick someone
veck - man or guy
vesches - things or stuff
viddy - to see or watch
yahzick - tongue
yarbles / yarblockos - testicles
zoobies - teeth