👉 An argot, the jargon of a particular class or subgroup.
Alright class, settle down now, let’s take a look!
You’ve come across a tricky word today, "cant," and it's got a fascinating history. The dictionary tells us it’s “argot, the jargon of a particular class or subgroup.” Let's break that down, shall we?
Think of it like this:
“Cant” means a special language.
It's not just regular speech – it’s a way of talking
within
a group.
"Argot,"
is a really good starting point. It comes from the French word for "street talk." It’s slang, you see? A secret code that helps people in that group understand each other better.
Let's say a group of sailors lived together on ships for years – they’d develop their own words and phrases to talk about things without outsiders knowing what they were saying. That would be "cant" -
their
special language.
Or maybe it’s the way young people talk today, using slang that older generations don't quite get. That too can be considered “cant.”
It could even be a group of artists, or criminals…anywhere you find a close-knit community with its own unique way of speaking.
So, "cant" isn’t just about
not
being able to... it's about a
style
of communication.
It’s a particular
tone
, a specific set of words and expressions shared by a group.
Do you have any questions? Let's explore this further!