'Mythic' Mafia and their Code of Honor

Anaraxes · 07-01-2011, 10:57 AM

Small note on translation: you probably want the word "whistle-blower" rather than "whistler" for a tattletale. "Whistle" or "whistler" alone doesn't really have that sense in English.

But to me, "whistle-blower" has more of a corporate or government connotation. There are lots of synonyms that are more associated with criminals. "Narc" (both a noun and a verb, from undercover narcotics officers), or less modern, "rat", as in the much imitated James Cagney line "Mmm..., that dirty, double-crossin' rat". Which of course brings up "double-crosser" as the noun form. "Stool pigeon" -> "stoolie", "snitch", and "squealer" also seem more Mafia-esque to me.

What would be really nice would be a word that fits in with the other lingo. if the Mafia are the Modest Providers, what's a word that has the sense of "interfering with a provider"?

07-01-2011, 10:57 AM	#11
Anaraxes Join Date: Sep 2007	Re: 'Mythic' Mafia and their Code of Honor Small note on translation: you probably want the word "whistle-blower" rather than "whistler" for a tattletale. "Whistle" or "whistler" alone doesn't really have that sense in English. But to me, "whistle-blower" has more of a corporate or government connotation. There are lots of synonyms that are more associated with criminals. "Narc" (both a noun and a verb, from undercover narcotics officers), or less modern, "rat", as in the much imitated James Cagney line "Mmm..., that dirty, double-crossin' rat". Which of course brings up "double-crosser" as the noun form. "Stool pigeon" -> "stoolie", "snitch", and "squealer" also seem more Mafia-esque to me. What would be really nice would be a word that fits in with the other lingo. if the Mafia are the Modest Providers, what's a word that has the sense of "interfering with a provider"?