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Esteban

Apr 2, 2004, 9:50 AM

Post #1 of 3 (1495 views)

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Slang

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Would someone please explain the difference between argot, jerga and calo (calo has an accent on the "O" but I'm using a laptop and don't know how to put the accent there)

Thanks in Advance,
Esteban

quevedo

Apr 2, 2004, 8:12 PM

Post #2 of 3 (1361 views)

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Re: [Esteban] Slang

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argot.
(Del fr. argot).
1. Jerga, jerigonza.
2. m. Lenguaje especial entre personas de un mismo oficio o actividad.

jerga.
(Der. regres., seguramente a través del prov. del fr. jargon, y este onomat.).
1. f. Lenguaje especial y familiar que usan entre sí los individuos de ciertas profesiones y oficios, como los toreros o los médicos.
2. f. Lenguaje especial utilizado originalmente con propósitos crípticos por determinados grupos sociales, que a veces se extiende al uso general; p. ej., la jerga de los maleantes.
3. f. jerigonza (lenguaje difícil de entender).

caló.
(Del caló caló, negro).
1. m. Lenguaje de los gitanos españoles.

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So, jerga and argot have almost the same meaning, with jerga in certain cases used with the specific intention of making the language difficult to understand; to disguise meaning to strangers; while caló is the special jargon used by Spanish gypsies.

Un saludo cordial,

Quevedo

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Apr 8, 2004, 10:30 AM

Post #3 of 3 (1379 views)

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Re: [Esteban] Slang

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I think that "jerga" and "argot" are synonyms that mean jargon, rhetoric, or specialized vocabulary. Caló is the language of the Spanish gypsy, but also current usage is Mexican-American slang.