3.2.2 Polari, argot and Lunfardo
You will now listen to three audio clips in which members of the Open University’s Department of Languages talk about slang used in three different cultures: English Polari, Argentinian Lunfardo and French argot.
As you listen, it is worth bearing in mind that the origins of particular varieties of language are never easy to date with any precision, especially as they often evolve from the language environment around them.
Activity 18
Listen to the following audios and try to identify the main similarities and differences between these three sociolects. As you listen you may find it helpful to focus on the following aspects:
- how they originated: who spoke them and why
- how words and expressions are formed
- attitudes of mainstream society/culture towards their use
- present usage.
1 What similarities were you able to identify between Polari, Lunfardo and argot ? Make a note of them in the box below.
2 What differences did you identify between Polari, Lunfardo and argot? Make a note of them in this box.
OpenLearn - Exploring languages and cultures 
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