Barrelhouse Words: A Blues Dialect Dictionary

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Author's Note
Introduction
A Note on Language
Select Annotated Bibliography of Dictionary Sources
General Bibliography
Informants Cited in Text
Abbreviations and Symbols Used in Text
Dictionary Entries A-Z
Index

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This fascinating compendium explains the most unusual, obscure, and curious words and expressions from vintage blues music. Utilizing both documentary evidence and invaluable interviews with a number of now-deceased musicians from the 1920s and '30s, blues scholar Stephen Calt unravels the nuances of more than twelve hundred idioms and proper or place names found on oft-overlooked "race records" recorded between 1923 and 1949. From "aggravatin' papa" to "yas-yas-yas" and everything in between, this truly unique, racy, and compelling resource decodes a neglected speech for general readers and researchers alike, offering invaluable information about black language and American slang.

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A fascinating and entertaining read

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