Abstract

The article follows the rise and development of the sea novel on both sides of the Atlantic, and m this context the sailors’ language term inology used by prominent nautical writers, am ong others Capt. Frederick Marryat, J. F. Cooper, Herman M elville, Jack London, Joseph Conrad and Nicholas Monsarrat. Among the terms used for the said language by these writers there are ‘sea language’, ‘marine talk’, ‘sailors’ parlance’, ‘vernacular’, ‘dialect’, ‘nautical jargon’, ‘lingo ’, ‘seamen’s cant’ and ‘slang’. The article also surveys problem s connected w ith the use of such a language in works of literary fiction addressed to readers ‘ashore’ who are not familiar with specialized maritime dictionary.