About: Namsadang cant

The Namsadang cant (Korean: 남사당 은어, literally 'Namsadang jargon') was a cant, or secret language, used by members of the Korean Namsadang performance art troupes. Although once widely used, decline in popularity of these troupes in the 20th century have led to much of the original jargon being forgotten, with only certain words surviving from those who remember parts and words from the jargon, who were often older or retired members of these troupes. Currently, with the re-establishment of the troupe Anseong, where the Namsadang originate from, there has been some renewed interest in the art, and thus the revival of the use and knowledge of some words in the community.