patois

created by tres equis
(thing) by patientfox (1.8 y) (print)   (I like it!) Mon Sep 11 2000 at 6:36:18
No, not the plural form of patio (yuk, yuk, yuk), but patois itself. A patois is a mish-mash of two or more languages with street slang evolution thrown in for fun. Creole is an example of a patois. Various regional sub-dialects of Chinese are another example. Consider that Mandarin Chinese is the most fluently-spoken language in the world, but within it, there are tens, if not hundreds of regional sub-dialects(patois). Fascinating, man.
(definition) by Webster 1913 (print) Wed Dec 22 1999 at 1:50:59

Pa`tois" (?), n. [F.]

A dialect peculiar to the illiterate classes; a provincial form of speech.

The jargon and patois of several provinces. Sir T. Browne.

 

© Webster 1913.

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