Why do tightly organized subcultures sometimes keep their slang secret?

Tightly organized subcultures often maintain a secret vocabulary, known as argot, to reinforce group solidarity and protect their internal values, attitudes, and techniques from the dominant culture.12

When a subculture is structurally tight, its members face intense internal and external pressures that encourage the development of a specialized language. This secrecy serves as a defensive mechanism; by keeping their language private, these groups prevent their specialized terms from leaking into the broader society, where they might be misunderstood, co-opted, or used against the group's interests.13

For instance, criminal subcultures often evolve their argot in direct response to the pressure applied by the dominant culture, using it to emphasize their unique identity and shared experiences. As long as the subculture remains cohesive and isolated, its language remains exclusive. However, when a subculture weakens or its members increase their contact with the outside world, this secrecy typically diminishes, and their once-private terms often diffuse into the dominant culture as common slang.13