Jackspeak: A guide to British Naval slang & usage

Husband was in RN 24 years. He is thoroughly enjoying the book.

Well that was a pleasant suprise! I didn't even spot that it was a hardback when I ordered it. I thought it was going to be one of those cheap flimsy books. Bought as a jokey gift for my son about to pass out of the royal navy.... but this is way nicer than expected! It's now made it onto my nautical "throbber" shelf!!!! Really funny and substantial. Who knew there was a whole other British language?! I think I need this more than him! Definitely recomened!

Oh what a wonderful and very amusing trip down memory lane to read this book. The sheer ingenuity and expression of RN Naval slang is a thing of wonder and very amusing. Being an old salt myself (and, incidentally, having served with both Rick Jolly and Tugg), I used to talk just like this when in the company of fellow matelots. I have the original spiral bound advanced copy that I got from Rick, some years ago, but this 2011 updated version is much more comprehensive. Rick's missed a couple of gems out but I'll let him know using the contact detailed in the book. This can still be enjoyed by "Gash Civvies" who will "crease up" whilst hoisting in the "dits". Sadly a lot of the jargon is no longer used and a lot of the kit and activities referred to, no longer happens in our much diminished boating lake navy. As well as being very amusing this book should be regarded very seriously as a valid historical document. If I had only one criticism, it can be slightly Officer-centric in places, whilst the wonderful slang mainly emanated from the lower deck. However, this does not detract from the value of this book.

I already had a working knowledge of naval slang but this book is a really comprehensive guide to the subject and a good rib tickler when you skim through the pages as I have so far.

JACKSPEAK is the result of over forty years of research by Rick Jolly and Tugg’s cartoons. The alternative author’s biography is every translator’s not to be missed challenge. The Author’s Preface is the life story of JACKSPEAK, which had its start when the author a then very green and still very much wet behind the ears Surgeon Lieutenant in Her Majesty’s Royal Navy congratulated a Royal Marine for managing to catch the boat up during the 1971 difficult times in Malta. That never forgotten embarrassment was the impetus of forty years of much work, much help and the many people all of whom I signal BZ, BZ…Bravo Zulu. The best way to review JACKSPEAK is to begin with a statement from Oxford Dictionary. (...)“Language Matters At Oxford Dictionaries, we have just one thing in mind: improving communication through an understanding and passion for language. That’s JACKSPEAK: Communications through an understanding and passion for language, the language of the Jacks. Who is Jack? Indeed, who are the Jacks? For the answer one needs to turn the pages of JACKSPEAK to Chapter JULIET, pages J – 241 to J – 252, since the explanation is nearly a full page, I shall turn the pages back to Chapter ALPHA, page A – 1 and explain that every chapter is given the International Radiotelephony Spelling Alphabet: Alpha, Bravo…all the way to Zulu the last chapter of JACKSPEAK and the last word in JACKSPEAK; in JACKSPEAK the word Zulu has four meanings. JACKSPEAK is Bravo Zulu. In the star system, JACKSPEAK is Admiral of the Fleet. I highly recommend JACKSPEAK. It is a dictionary that can proudly stand at attention side by side to Oxford’s Dictionary, Oxford’s Thesaurus, Oxford’s Etymology, Oxford’s Grammar and Oxford’s Style Manual, after all JACKSPEAK is all of the aforementioned for Her Majesty’s oldest organised fighting force, and for the Jack, the Jenny and the Royal that have kept the oldest organised fighting force in good working order for centuries. Richard Francis McDonald

Being ex Royal Navy AKA a Matelot this is a book very close to my heart, it's nice sometimes to have a flick through and have a giggle at some of the Jackspeak we used to use while in the mob. Rick Jolly the author is a naval legend and a very good bloke to boot. I've personally met the chap a couple of times now. This book is a must for anyone buying for an old sailor or even maybe if you're about to join the Royal Navy you could consider this as homework or research. Believe me if you know half the stuff in this book you're well on the way to being a true matelot!

Fascinating read and also very amusing, especially the cartoons. Brought up with a Naval relative, this sheds light on so many of the everyday words and phrases in common, everyday usage which have their roots in "The Senior Service'. Recommended if you have :- 1. An interest in The English Language 2. An interest in The Royal Navy and HM Royal Marines.

Gr8 TUVM

All that I expected

Absolutely sheer, total, and utterly utter delight for all who have served, serve, will or may serve in the Royal Navy, and for all with merely an interest in it's affairs going beyond knowing who Nelson was. Plus a significant contribution to the unique tradition of Jack and his inimitable ability to 'ave 'is tickler and see the bloody twelve roll on. Captain Jolly and Tugg bring back the days that seem to disappear slowly under the pressure of awkward modernity, fiscal cuts, and political correctness. For this book, CALL BOTH WATCHES OF HANDS!

Interesting book which explains where much of our modern sayings originated

Gr8 book

Great to peruse, love the Jack cartoons, they always bring a smile.