Radicalism of reading

[Steve Lindsay]

>>JF sez:
>>> 
>>> Aren't all of these "forms" of English simply called argot(s)? 
>>
>>Or cant(s) or patois.
>
>But all of these -- well, at least the first two -- are derogatory, and 
>none of them is used by people who actually study the variations of 
>language.
>
>
>Cheers,
>David
>

I believe the correct term is "dialect" "A regional variety of a language,
distinguished from other varieties by pronounciation, grammar, or
vocabulary..."{Am Her Dict).  "Argot" is French for "slang". "cant" has
several meanings.  "Patois" can mean "dialect", but it definitely has a
derogatory sound to it- a little French language snobbism showing through.

mrlinzy