Cant is an example of an argot Argot is a secret language used by various groups—including, but not limited to, thieves and other criminals—to prevent outsiders from understanding their conversations. The term argot is also used to refer to the informal specialized vocabulary from a particular field of study, hobby, job, sport, etc.[citation needed] or cryptolect, a characteristic or secret language used only by members of a group, often used to conceal the meaning from those outside the group.
An example of a cant language which has been introduced widely into the mainstream is the Polari Polari was a form of cant slang used in the gay subculture in Britain. It was revived in the 1950s and 1960s by its use by camp characters Julian and Sandy in the popular BBC radio shows Beyond our Ken and Round the Horne, but its origins can be traced back to at least the 19th century. There is some debate about how it originated. There is a language which was used extensively in British gay and theatrical circles in the first half of the 20th century.[1]
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