In Tibet, as in most other parts of the world, there are cryptic language codes corresponding to “argots,” slang usages or languages of guilds, known as ལོགས་སྐད་. In Lhasa, certain artisanal associations, such as carpenters, use special argots. In cities, too, some youth sub-cultures have also developed their own sociolects.

The term ལོགས་སྐད་ has a secondary meaning of “isolated” language, usually a Tibeto-Burman language that is close to, but mutually incomprehensible with, Tibetan. These languages are sometimes also referred to as “secret languages” གསང་བའི་སྐད་ or “languages of the Dakinis (celestial goddesses)” མཁའ་འགྲོ་མའི་སྐད་.

An example of this is the language of Basum, which is spoken in Kongpo about four hundred kilometers from Lhasa by fewer than three thousand people. There are some twenty “isolated” languages spoken on the high plateau by populations that are either Tibetan or else have been assimilated to Tibetan culture.