From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jargon is the specialized terminology associated with a particular field or area of activity.[1] Jargon is normally employed in a particular communicative context and may not be well understood outside that context. The context is usually a particular occupation (that is, a certain trade, profession, vernacular or academic field), but any ingroup can have jargon. The main trait that distinguishes jargon from the rest of a language is special vocabulary—including some words specific to it and often different senses or meanings of words, that outgroups would tend to take in another sense—therefore misunderstanding that communication attempt. Jargon is sometimes understood as a form of technical slang and then distinguished from the official terminology used in a particular field of activity.[2]
The terms jargon, slang, and argot are not consistently differentiated in the literature; different authors interpret these concepts in varying ways. According to one definition, jargon differs from slang in being secretive in nature;[3] according to another understanding, it is specifically associated with professional and technical circles.[4] Some sources, however, treat these terms as synonymous.[5][6] In Russian linguistics, jargon is classified as an expressive form of language, while secret languages are referred to as argots.[7] The use of jargon became more popular around the sixteenth century attracting persons from different career paths. This led to there being printed copies available on the various forms of jargon.[8]
Specifics[edit]
Jargon is «the technical terminology or characteristic idiom of a special activity or group».[9] Most jargon is technical terminology (technical terms), involving terms of art[10] or industry terms, with particular meaning within a specific industry. A main driving force in the creation of technical jargon is precision and efficiency of communication, when a discussion must easily range from general themes to specific, finely differentiated details without circumlocution. Jargon enriches everyday vocabulary with meaningful content and can potentially become a catchword.[11]
While jargon allows greater efficiency in communication among those familiar with it, a side-effect is that it raises the threshold of comprehensibility for outsiders.[12] This is usually accepted as an unavoidable trade-off, but it may also be used as a means of social exclusion (reinforcing ingroup–outgroup barriers) or social aspiration (when introduced as a way of showing off). Some academics promote the use of jargon-free language, as an audience may be alienated or confused by the technical terminology, and thus lose track of a speaker or writer’s broader and more important arguments.[13]
Etymology[edit]
The French word is believed to have been derived from the Latin word gaggire, meaning «to chatter», which was used to describe speech that the listener did not understand.[14] The word may also come from Old French jargon meaning «chatter of birds».[14] Middle English also has the verb jargounen meaning «to chatter,» or «twittering,» deriving from Old French.[15]
The first use of the word dates back to the usage of the word in The Canterbury Tales written by Geoffrey Chaucer between 1387 and 1400. Chaucer referred to jargon as the utterance of birds or sounds resembling birds.[15]
The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer is believed to be the first place the term «jargon» is mentioned in literature.
In colonial history, jargon was seen as a device of communication to bridge the gap between two speakers who did not speak the same tongue. Jargon was synonymous with pidgin in naming specific language usages. Jargon then began to have a negative connotation with lacking coherent grammar, or gibberish as it was seen as a «broken» language of many different languages with no full community to call their own. In the 1980s, linguists began restricting this usage of jargon to keep the word to more commonly define a technical or specialized language use.[16]
Fields using the term[edit]
The term is used, often interchangeably, with the term buzzword[17] when examining organizational culture.[18] In linguistics, it is used to mean «specialist language,»[19] with the term also seen as closely related to slang, argot and cant.[20] Various kinds of language peculiar to ingroups can be named across a semantic field. Slang can be either culture-wide or known only within a certain group or subculture. Argot is slang or jargon purposely used to obscure meaning to outsiders. Conversely, a lingua franca is used for the opposite effect, helping communicators to overcome unintelligibility, as are pidgins and creole languages. For example, the Chinook Jargon was a pidgin.[21] Although technical jargon’s primary purpose is to aid technical communication, not to exclude outsiders by serving as an argot, it can have both effects at once and can provide a technical ingroup with shibboleths. For example, medieval guilds could use this as one means of informal protectionism. On the other hand, jargon that once was obscure outside a small ingroup can become generally known over time. For example, the terms bit, byte, and hexadecimal (which are terms from computing jargon[22]) are now recognized by many people outside computer science.
Referenced[edit]
The philosopher Étienne Bonnot de Condillac observed in 1782 that «every science requires a special language because every science has its own ideas». As a rationalist member of the Enlightenment, he continued: «It seems that one ought to begin by composing this language, but people begin by speaking and writing, and the language remains to be composed.»[23]
Industry term[edit]
«An industry term… is a type of technical terminology that has a particular meaning in a specific industry. It implies that a word or phrase is a typical one in a particular industry and people working in the respective industry or business will be familiar with and use the term.»[24]
Precise technical terms and their definitions are formally recognized, documented, and taught by educators in the field. Other terms are more colloquial, coined and used by practitioners in the field, and are similar to slang. The boundaries between formal and slang jargon, as in general English, are quite fluid. This is especially true in the rapidly developing world of computers and networking. For instance, the term firewall (in the sense of a device used to filter network traffic) was at first technical slang. As these devices became more widespread and the term became widely understood, the word was adopted as formal terminology.[25]
Technical terminology evolves due to the need for experts in a field to communicate with precision and brevity, but often has the effect of excluding those who are unfamiliar with the particular specialized language of the group. This can cause difficulties as, for example, when a patient is unable to follow the discussions of medical practitioners, and thus cannot understand his own condition and treatment. Differences in jargon also cause difficulties where professionals in related fields use different terms for the same phenomena.[26]
Business Jargon[edit]
The use of jargon in the business world is a common occurrence. The use of jargon in business correspondence reached a high popularity between the late 1800’s into the 1950’s.[27] Jargon in business is most frequently used in modes of communication especially in business letters and changes as language evolves. Common phrases used in business jargon includes:
- As per
- Ditto
- Hereby
- Meet with your approval
- Oblige
- Please be advised
- Pursuant
- Undersigned
[27]
Medical Jargon[edit]
This is another common area that jargon is known to be found. Medicine is rich in scientific terminology that is used amongst medical professionals. However, these terms when used with patients or non medical professionals has caused issues. Most patients encounter medical jargon when referring to their diagnosis or when receiving or reading their medication. [28] Some of the most commonly used terms in medical jargon are:
- Ablation
- Biopsied
- Hematoma
- Infarct
- Ketosis
- Papillary carcinoma
- Plantar fasciitis
- sciatica
- Vertebrae
[28]
On first glance many people do not understand what these terms mean and may panic when they see these scientific names being used in reference to their health.[29] The argument as to whether medical jargon is a positive or negative attribute to a patients experience has evidence to support both sides. On one hand, as mentioned before these phrases can be overwhelming for some patients who may not understand the terminology. However, with the accessibility to the internet, it has been suggested that these terms can be used and easily researched for clarity.[28]
In practice[edit]
Jargon may serve the purpose of a «gatekeeper» in conversation, signaling who is allowed into certain forms of conversation. Jargon may serve this function by dictating to which direction or depth a conversation about or within the context of a certain field or profession will go.[30] For example, a conversation between two professionals in which one person has little previous interaction or knowledge of the other person could go one of at least two possible ways. One of the professionals (who the other professional does not know) does not use, or does not correctly use the jargon of their respective field, and is little regarded or remembered beyond small talk or fairly insignificant in this conversation. Or, if the person does use particular jargon (showing their knowledge in the field to be legitimate, educated, or of particular significance) the other professional then opens the conversation up in an in-depth or professional manner.[30] Outside of conversation, jargon can become confusing in writing. When used in text, readers can become confused if there are terms used that require outside knowledge on the subject.[31]
Positivity[edit]
Ethos is used to create an appeal to authority. It is one of three pillars of persuasion created by Aristotle to create a logical argument. Ethos uses credibility to back up arguments. It can indicate to the audience that a speaker is an insider with using specialized terms in the field to make an argument based on authority and credibility.[32]
Jargon can be used to convey meaningful information and discourse in a convenient way within communities. A subject expert may wish to avoid jargon when explaining something to a layperson. Jargon may help communicate contextual information optimally.[33] For example, a football coach talking to their team or a doctor working with nurses.[34]
Accessibility and criticism[edit]
With the rise of the self-advocacy movement within the disability movement, «jargonized» language has been much objected to by advocates and self-advocates. Jargon is largely present in everyday language, in newspapers, government documents, and official forms. Several advocacy organizations work on influencing public agents to offer accessible information in different formats.[35] One accessible format that offers an alternative to jargonised language is «easy read», which consists of a combination of plain English and images.
The criticism against jargon can be found in certain fields when responding to specific information. In a study done by analyzing 58 patients and 10 radiation therapists, they diagnosed and explained the treatment of a disease to a patient with the use of jargon. It was found that using jargon in the medical field is not the best in communicating the terminology and concepts. Patients tend to be confused about what the treatments and risks were.[36] There are resources that include online glossaries of technical jargon, also known as «jargon busters.»
Examples[edit]
Many examples of jargon exist because of its use among specialists and subcultures alike. In the professional world, those who are in the business of filmmaking may use words like «vorkapich» to refer to a montage when talking to colleagues.[37] In Rhetoric, rhetoricians use words like «arete» to refer to a person of power’s character when speaking with one another.[38]
- Architectural terminology
- Ballet terminology
- Binomial nomenclature
- Blazon (Heraldic terminology)
- Business jargon
- Chemical nomenclature
- Computing jargon
- Corporate jargon
- Cricket terminology
- Economics terminology that differs from common usage
- Fencing terminology
- Flag terminology
- Language of mathematics
- Mathematical jargon
- Legal terms
- Medical terminology
- Musical terminology
- Nautical terms (A-L)
- Nautical terms (M-Z)
- Padonkaffsky jargon
- Poker terminology
- Scientific terminology
- International scientific vocabulary
- Wine tasting descriptors
See also[edit]
- Academese
- Bullshit
- Colloquialism
- Cryptolect
- Eurodicautom
- Gibberish
- Idola fori
- Jargon File
- Legalese
- Lexigraf
- Nomenclature
- Orismology
- P convention
- Phraseme
- Pidgin
- Polari
- Procedure word
- Register (sociolinguistics)
- Specification (technical standard)
- Technical standard
- Thieves’ cant
- Three-letter acronym
- Variety (linguistics)
References[edit]
- ^ Murray, Neil (2012). Writing Essays in English Language and Linguistics: Principles, Tips and Strategies for Undergraduates. Cambridge University Press. p. 147. ISBN 9780521111195.
- ^ Polskaya, Svetlana (2011). «Differentiating between various categories of special vocabulary (on the material of a professionals speech of English-speaking stock exchange brokers)». In Raţă, Georgeta (ed.). Academic Days of Timişoara: Language Education Today. Cambridge Scholars Publishing. p. 519. ISBN 9781443833165.
- ^ Piekot, Tomasz (2008). Język w grupie społecznej: wprowadzenie do analizy socjolektu (in Polish). Wałbrzych: Wydawnictwo Państwowej Wyższej Szkoły Zawodowej im. Angelusa Silesiusa. p. 28. ISBN 9788388425387. OCLC 297524942.
- ^ Forsyth, Patrick (2007). Outsmarting Your Competitors: Techniques of Sales Excellence to Build Profitable Business. Marshall Cavendish. p. 88. ISBN 9789812614483.
- ^ Grzenia, Jan (2005-04-25). «gwara a żargon». Poradnia PWN (in Polish). sjp.pwn.pl. Retrieved 2019-04-26.
- ^ Mistrík, Jozef (1993). Encyklopédia jazykovedy (in Slovak) (1 ed.). Bratislava: Obzor. p. 385. ISBN 8021502509. OCLC 29200758.
- ^ Kortas, Jan (2003). «Terminy «argot», «argotyzm» w polskiej nomenklaturze językoznawczej». Poradnik Językowy (in Polish). Wydawnictwa Uniwersytetu Warszawskiego. 2003 (7): 29–38. ISSN 0551-5343.
- ^ Stearns, Peter N., ed. (1993-12-21). Encyclopedia of Social History. doi:10.4324/9780203306352. ISBN 9781135583477.
- ^ «Jargon». Merriam Webster. Merriam-Webster. Archived from the original on 5 April 2013. Retrieved 29 March 2013.
- ^ «Term of art». Merriam-Webster Dictionary.
- ^ Wodak, Ruth (1989). Language, Power and Ideology: Studies in political discourse. John Benjamins Publishing Company. pp. 1–288. ISBN 9789027286055.
- ^ Stucky, Mark (2007). «Dr. Jargonlove: Or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Technobabble» (PDF). Intercom (April): 44.
- ^ Ross, Steven (2014). «Jargon and the Crisis of Readability: Methodology, Language, and the Future of Film History». Cinema Journal. 44 (1): 130–133. doi:10.1353/cj.2004.0052. JSTOR 3661180.
- ^ a b «Jargon». Online Etymology Dictionary. Retrieved April 28, 2018.
- ^ a b Martinuzzi, Bruna. «The History of Jargon». American Express. American Express Company. Retrieved 22 February 2019.
- ^ Mufwene, Salikoko Sangol. «Jargon | linguistics». Encyclopedia Britannica. Encyclopaedia Britannica. Retrieved 22 February 2019.
- ^ Collins, David (2013-10-11). Management Fads and Buzzwords: Critical-Practical Perspectives. ISBN 9781136295089.
- ^ Martin, J. and Frost, P., 2011. The organizational culture war games. Sociology of Organizations: Structures and relationships, 315.
- ^ Allan, Keith (2017). The English Language and Linguistics Companion. p. 18. ISBN 978-1-349-92395-3.
- ^ Adams, Michael (2012-09-01). Slang: The People’s Poetry. ISBN 9780199986538.
- ^ «Jargon | linguistics». Encyclopedia Britannica.
- ^ Lundin, Leigh (2009-12-31). «Buzzwords– bang * splat !». Don Martin School of Software. Criminal Brief.
- ^ Quoted by Fernand Braudel, in discussing the origins of capital, capitalism, in The Wheels of Commerce, vol. II of Civilization and Capitalism, 15th–18th Century, 1979:234. Originally found in Condillac’s work Le Commerce et le gouvernement considérés relativement l’un à l’autre (1776) Archived 2015-09-23 at the Wayback Machine.
- ^ Peterlicean, Andrea (2015). «Challenges and perspectives in teaching specialised languages». The Journal of Linguistic and Intercultural Education. 8: 149–162. doi:10.29302/jolie.2015.8.10. Retrieved 18 January 2017.
- ^ Monografias.com, jaimemontoya (23 April 2007). «Technical Terminology — Monografias.com». www.monografias.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 22 February 2019.
- ^ Jirtle, James. «Words in English :: Usage». www.ruf.rice.edu. 2003, James Jirtle. Retrieved 22 February 2019.
- ^ a b Locker, Kitty O. (January 1987). ««As Per Your Request»: A History of Business Jargon». Iowa State Journal of Business and Technical Communication. 1 (1): 27–47. doi:10.1177/105065198700100104. ISSN 0892-5720. S2CID 61058775.
- ^ a b c Fage-Butler, Antoinette M.; Nisbeth Jensen, Matilde (June 2016). «Medical terminology in online patient-patient communication: evidence of high health literacy?». Health Expectations. 19 (3): 643–653. doi:10.1111/hex.12395. PMC 5042046. PMID 26287945.
- ^ Tasker, J. R. (1958). «Medical Jargon». The British Medical Journal. 1 (5083): 1356. ISSN 0007-1447. JSTOR 25380869.
- ^ a b Campbell, Gordon (2014-01-22), «Jargon», Oxford Art Online, Oxford University Press, doi:10.1093/gao/9781884446054.article.t2072529
- ^ Nadziejka, David E. (1992). «Jargon». Technical Communication. 39 (4): 663–664. ISSN 0049-3155. JSTOR 43090185.
- ^ «Ethos». Philosophy Terms. 1 December 2015.
- ^ Boggs, Colleen Glenney (27 November 2012). «In Defense of Jargon». Huffington Post. Retrieved 1 March 2019.
- ^ Dodge, Amanda (23 August 2013). «The Pros and Cons of Using Jargon». Copypress. Retrieved 1 March 2019.
- ^ Lundin, Leigh (2013-04-05). «Jargon buster – Accessible Information * splat !». Northampton Borough Council. Northampton Borough Council.
- ^ Schnitzler, Lena; et al. (9 August 2016). «Communication during radiation therapy education sessions: The role of medical jargon and emotional support in clarifying patient confusion». Patient Education and Counseling. 100 (1): 112–120. doi:10.1016/j.pec.2016.08.006. PMID 27542311.
- ^ «Cinematic Terms – A FilmMaking Glossary». filmsite.org.
- ^ «Dictionary.com — Find the Meanings and Definitions of Words at Dictionary.com». Dictionary.com.
Further reading[edit]
- Green, Jonathon. Dictionary of Jargon. London: Routledge & Kegan Paul, 1987. ISBN 0-7100-9919-3.
- Nash, Walter. Jargon: Its Uses and Abuses. Oxford: Blackwell, 1993. ISBN 0-631-18063-X.
- Sonneveld, H., Loenning, K.: (1994): «Introducing terminology», in Terminology, p. 1–6
- Wright, S. E.; Budin, G.: (1997): Handbook of Terminology Management, Volume 1: Basic Aspects of Terminology Management. Amsterdam, Philadelphia: John Benjamins. 370 pp.
External links[edit]
Wikiquote has quotations related to Jargon.
Look up jargon in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Jargon.
- The Jargon Wiki—A wiki based on The Jargon File.
- Business Jargon—Business jargon and terminology
- Jargonism—Business English dictionary for industry-specific jargon
Definition and Examples of Jargon
Pablo Blasberg/Getty Images
Updated on November 04, 2019
Jargon refers to the specialized language of a professional or occupational group. While this language is often useful or necessary for those within the group, it is usually meaningless to outsiders. Some professions have so much jargon of their own that it has its own name; for example, lawyers use legalese, while academics use academese. Jargon is also sometimes known as lingo or argot. A passage of text that is full of jargon is said to be jargony.
Key Takeaways: Jargon
• Jargon is the complex language used by experts in a certain discipline or field. This language often helps experts communicate with clarity and precision.
• Jargon is different from slang, which is the casual language used by a particular group of people.
• Critics of jargon believe such language does more to obscure than clarify; they argue that most jargon can be replaced with simple, direct language without sacrificing meaning.
Supporters of jargon believe such language is necessary for navigating the intricacies of certain professions. In scientific fields, for instance, researchers explore difficult subjects that most laypeople would not be able to understand. The language the researchers use must be precise because they are dealing with complex concepts (molecular biology, for example, or nuclear physics) and simplifying the language might cause confusion or create room for error. In «Taboo Language,» Keith Allan and Kate Burridge argue that this is the case:
«Should jargon be censored? Many people think it should. However, close examination of jargon shows that, although some of it is vacuous pretentiousness…its proper use is both necessary and unobjectionable.»
Critics of jargon, however, say such language is needlessly complicated and in some cases even deliberately designed to exclude outsiders. American poet David Lehman has described jargon as «the verbal sleight of hand that makes the old hat seem newly fashionable.» He says the language «gives an air of novelty and specious profundity to ideas that, if stated directly, would seem superficial, stale, frivolous, or false.» In his famous essay «Politics and the English Language,» George Orwell argues that obscure and complex language is often used to «make lies sound truthful and murder respectable, and to give an appearance of solidity to pure wind.»
Jargon vs. Slang
Jargon should not be confused with slang, which is informal, colloquial language sometimes used by a group (or groups) of people. The main difference is one of register; jargon is formal language unique to a specific discipline or field, while slang is common, informal language that is more likely to be spoken than written. A lawyer discussing an «amicus curiae brief» is an example of jargon. A teen talking about «making dough» is an example of slang.
List of Jargon Words
Jargon can be found in a variety of fields, from law to education to engineering. Some examples of jargon include:
- Due diligence: A business term, «due diligence» refers to the research that should be done before making an important business decision.
- AWOL: Short for «absent without leave,» AWOL is military jargon used to describe a person whose whereabouts are unknown.
- Hard copy: A common term in business, academia, and other fields, a «hard copy» is a physical printout of a document (as opposed to an electronic copy).
- Cache: In computing, «cache» refers to a place for short-term memory storage.
- Dek: A journalism term for a subheading, usually one or two sentences long, that provides a brief summary of the article that follows.
- Stat: This is a term, usually used in a medical context, that means «immediately.» (As in, «Call the doctor, stat!»)
- Phospholipid bilayer: This is a complex term for a layer of fat molecules surrounding a cell. A simpler term is «cell membrane.»
- Detritivore: A detritivore is an organism that feeds on detritus or dead matter. Examples of detritivores include earthworms, sea cucumbers, and millipedes.
- Holistic: Another word for «comprehensive» or «complete,» «holistic» is often used by educational professionals in reference to curriculum that focuses on social and emotional learning in addition to traditional lessons.
- Magic bullet: This is a term for a simple solution that solves a complex problem. (It is usually used derisively, as in «I don’t think this plan you’ve come up with is a magic bullet.»)
- Best practice: In business, a «best practice» is one that should be adopted because it has proven effectiveness.
In your study of English Language, you’ve probably come across terms such as ‘slang’, ‘dialect’, and ‘jargon’. The latter is what we’re going to be exploring in this article. If you’ve ever had a job, or even if you’ve belonged to a specific sports team or club, it’s likely that you’ve heard jargon being used before and may have even used it yourself. We’ll look at some examples of jargon a bit later on in the article, which might ring some bells, but let’s cover the definition of jargon first:
Jargon meaning
The word ‘jargon’ is a noun, meaning:
Jargons are specialised words or phrases used by a certain profession or group to refer to things that happen in that profession or group. People outside of these professions are likely to find these jargon expressions difficult to understand. Jargon often includes technical terms, acronyms, or specialized vocabulary that is specific to a particular field, industry, or community.
As a student, it’s likely that you hear examples of jargon used all the time. Teachers use lots of educational jargon. Some examples of this you might have heard include:
-
Peer assessment — marking a classmate’s work
-
Point Evidence Explanation (or ‘PEE’) — a method for structuring essays effectively
-
Coursework — work done throughout the year to be assessed, instead of exams
-
Critical thinking — approaching a topic analytically and with logical reasoning
Difference between jargon and slang
Jargon can be seen as a type of ‘professional slang’ in some ways, and that is a fairly important distinction to make between the two terms. Whereas slang refers to colloquial, informal language that is more commonly used verbally than it is written, jargon is commonly a professional language used in professional settings. Jargon is used equally in written and verbal communication.
Examples of slang
-
Salty: when someone is acting bitter or agitated.
-
Dope: a way of saying something is cool or good.
-
Peng: when something is attractive or appealing.
Examples of jargon
-
Contempt of court (legal jargon): the offence of being disrespectful or defiant during a court proceeding.
-
Myocardial infarction (medical jargon): a heart attack.
-
Accrual (accounting jargon): a strategy for recording revenue that has been earned but not yet paid.
Fig. 1 — Jargon terms are not always understood by people outside of a particular profession.
Jargon synonym
Are there any other words you should look out for that have the same meaning as ‘jargon’? Let’s see…
Jargon doesn’t have any exact synonyms. However, there are some other terms that mean similar things and could be used in place of the word ‘jargon’ in certain circumstances. Some examples include:
-
Lingo: this is often used in place of the word ‘slang’, but if you added other words to it, such as ‘botanical lingo’, ‘engineering lingo’, or ‘business lingo’, then you get phrases that essentially mean jargon. It’s worth noting that the term ‘lingo’ is quite colloquial, so it might not be appropriate to use in all situations.
-
-Speak or -ese: similarly to ‘lingo’, these suffixes can be added to words to refer to the kind of vocabulary used in different professions. For instance, ‘medical speak’ (medical jargon) or ‘legalese’ (legal jargon).
-
Argot: this is potentially one of the nearest synonyms for jargon and refers to the slang or specialised language used by a particular group (usually related to social factors such as age and class).
-
Patter: this is a slang term that refers to jargon or the specific language used in certain occupations.
Jargon examples
To consolidate our understanding of what jargon is even further, we’ll now look at some examples of jargon used in different professions.
Medical jargon
-
Comorbidity: when a person has two or more diseases or medical conditions present in the body at one time.
-
Bench-to-bedside: when the results of laboratory research are used directly to come up with new treatments for patients.
-
Arterial hypertension: high blood pressure.
-
Systolic: relating to the process of the heart muscles contracting to pump blood into arteries.
Legal jargon
-
Injunction: a specialised court order that commands a party to do something or refrain from doing something.
-
Libel: a written and published false statement that damages a person or party’s reputation.
-
Perjury: when someone intentionally gives a false testimony during a court proceeding after swearing to tell the truth.
-
Mitigation: the process by which a party that has suffered a loss takes measures to minimise the effect of the loss.
Horticultural jargon
-
Cotyledon: one of the first leaves to appear after a seed germinates and begins to grow.
-
Etiolation: the process of partially or fully depriving plants of sunlight during growth, resulting in pale and weak plants.
-
Inflorescence: a cluster of flowers growing on one stem, encompassing the flower heads, stalks, and other parts of the flowers.
-
Humus: the dark, rich organic matter found in soil as a result of plant and animal material decaying.
Accounting jargon
-
Reconciliation: the process of comparing transactions to supporting documentation to check for and eliminate discrepancies.
-
Depreciation: the process by which an asset loses value over a period of time.
-
Capital allowances: any expenses that a company is able to claim back against its taxable profit.
-
Prepayment: the settlement of a debt or loan repayment prior to the official due date.
Can you think of any jargon you use in any jobs, clubs, or sports you’re a part of?
Fig. 2 — Accountants will use many terms that you’d only hear in the financial industry.
The use of jargon in communication
As you’ve likely gathered by now, jargon is language that different professions use to refer to things that exist within these professions. There are several purposes of jargon:
-
to name specialised concepts, objects, or situations
-
to facilitate communication within a workplace or industry
If we look more closely at the latter point, jargon is used by people within a specific profession or group to make communication within the group easier and more efficient. How so?
The use of jargon in communication relies upon the assumption that everyone within the communicative exchange understands said jargon and what it refers to. By using jargon terms, colleagues can make points clearer and more efficient, as there is no need to provide extensive details about a particular situation. In other words, jargon usually negates the need for very detailed descriptions.
History of the term ‘jargon’
By this point in the article, you’ve probably built up a decent sense of what jargon is. However, ‘jargon’ didn’t always mean what it means to us today.
One of the first recorded uses of the word ‘jargon’ was in Geoffrey Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales. This excerpt is from The Merchant’s Tale, one of the stories in The Canterbury Tales:
He was al coltissh, ful of ragerye,
And ful of jargon as a flekked pye.
The slakke skyn aboute his nekke shaketh,
Whil that he sang, so chaunteth he and craketh.
Geoffrey Chaucer, The Merchant’s Tale, The Canterbury Tales (c. 1386)
In this passage, the character, January, serenades his new wife and compares himself to a bird that is ‘full of jargon’, referring to the chattering sound birds make. This definition of jargon stems from the Old French word, ‘jargoun’ meaning a twittering sound.
If we jump forward a few years to British colonial times, we can see that the word ‘jargon’ was used to refer to creoles and pidgins, or the language enslaved people used to communicate when they didn’t share a common language (much like a lingua franca). ‘Jargon’ began to take on negative connotations and was often used derogatorily (insultingly) to refer to rudimentary, incoherent, or ‘broken’ language.
Modern use of the word ‘jargon’ has changed drastically in meaning, and we now know jargon to be specialised language used by certain professions.
Benefits of using jargon
As with most features of the English language, there are benefits and disadvantages to using jargon. In this section, we’ll look at the benefits.
Clear definitions
One of the key advantages of using jargon is that jargon words were created to mean or refer to very specific things. Sometimes, a jargon word can be used to describe a very complex specialised concept or situation, and using jargon negates the need for this complicated concept or situation to be explained in detail. In other words, when people understand the jargon, communication becomes clearer and more efficient.
In accounting, instead of saying ‘The client needs to initiate the gradual reduction of debt relating to the initial cost of the assets.’ which is very wordy and confusing, the account could simply say ‘The client must initiate amortisation.’
‘Amortisation’ is an example of accounting jargon that clarifies and simplifies what would otherwise be a lengthy and complex explanation.
Common language
Jargon is important and beneficial in various workplaces because it facilitates professional communication by creating common language. Through mutual understanding of field-specific jargon, everyone in that field will know what is being discussed, whereas people outside the field might not. This means that colleagues can talk more freely and efficiently about work-related concepts and issues, without ‘muddying the waters’ with non-specific or irrelevant language.
Jargon can also show how much authority a person has regarding a certain matter, as the more experienced a person is in a particular field, the more jargon they are likely to know and use.
Shared identity and workplace culture
Because most people within a profession will understand that profession’s jargon (at least to a basic extent), there is more potential for a shared identity and stronger workplace culture. Just as adolescents use slang to create a sense of community and identity, the same can be true in professional environments with the use of jargon.
Suppose a group of horticulturalists are discussing the best ways to encourage more vigorous fruiting on different plants. In that case, they might use jargon terms such as ‘pinching off’, ‘forcing the rhubarb’ and ‘side shoots’ in their descriptions. It’s highly likely that all the horticulturalists involved in the conversation will understand what is meant by these terms, which means they are included in the exchange. Inclusion leads to feelings of community and shared identity, which can create stronger professional relationships and, subsequently, better workplace culture.
Fig. 3 — Using jargon in the workplace can lead to a stronger team identity.
Disadvantages of using jargon
Let’s now look at the disadvantages of using jargon:
It can be exclusive
Just as jargon can create opportunities for shared language and identity, it can also have the opposite effect. If someone is new to a particular profession or is less experienced than others, they might not know the meanings of all the jargon terms used by more experienced colleagues. If the more experienced colleagues continually use jargon words that others don’t understand, this can lead to the less-experienced peers feeling excluded.
This is an issue for professional-client relationships too. For instance, if a doctor is speaking to their patient using only complicated jargon, the patient might be left feeling confused and discouraged as they have not been able to understand what is being said.
Doctor: ‘The tests show that you’ve recently suffered a mild myocardial infarction.’
Patient: ‘Gee, thanks for the explanation, Doc. I have no idea what that means.’
(This is obviously an extreme example, and an exchange like this would be quite unlikely to happen. However, we’ll use it for the purpose of illustrating the point.)
It can be confusing for non-native language speakers
New and inexperienced people are not the only ones who might be at a disadvantage in the workplace if a lot of jargon is used. Anyone who doesn’t speak English as a first language might find jargon terms difficult to understand, as they might be unfamiliar with them.
This can lead to people not being able to fully understand workplace conversations, which can be frustrating and make it difficult to complete one’s duties. Non-native English speakers might require additional explanations for jargon terms, which can impede the efficiency of workplace communication.
Overuse can lead to distrust
In certain industries, excessive jargon use can lead to feelings of distrust, especially where clients or customers are concerned. If a client hears jargon terms being thrown around all the time and are unable to fully understand what is being said, they might begin to feel distrust of the company working for them. Jargon can make things unclear for people who don’t understand the terminology.
Suppose a person’s financial advisor continually uses jargon terms such as ‘depreciation’, ‘capital allowances’, and ‘accrual’ without properly explaining these terms to their client. In that case, the client might feel taken advantage of or as though the financial advisor does not respect them. The client might think that the financial advisor is trying to hide something by not explaining terms clearly.
Fig. 4 — Using jargon with people who do not understand it can lead to distrust.
Jargon — Key takeaways
- ‘Jargon’ refers to the specialised language used in a particular profession or field to describe things that happen within that profession or field.
- Jargon is unlikely to be understood by people outside of a particular field or occupation.
- Jargon is mainly used to make communication simpler, clearer, and more efficient.
- The benefits of using jargon include: creating a sense of shared identity and workplace culture, making descriptions easier and more efficient, and facilitating communication in professional environments.
- The disadvantages of using jargon include: it can be exclusive and leave people out, it can cause distrust if over-used, and it can be confusing for non-native language speakers.
Asked by: Wilfrid Boehm Jr.
Score: 4.9/5
(42 votes)
Jargon is the term for specialized or technical language that is only understood by those who are members of a group or who perform a specific trade. For example, the legal profession has many terms that are considered jargon, or terms that only lawyers and judges use frequently.
What is an example of a jargon?
Some examples of jargon include: Due diligence: A business term, «due diligence» refers to the research that should be done before making an important business decision. AWOL: Short for «absent without leave,» AWOL is military jargon used to describe a person whose whereabouts are unknown.
What are the jargon words?
25 Jargon Words to Avoid (Like the Plague)
- Actionable (adjective) …
- “Ah-ha” moment (noun) …
- Baked in (adjective) …
- Bandwidth (noun) …
- Brain dump (noun) …
- Corner case (noun) …
- Cycles (noun) …
- Folksonomy (noun)
What is an example of jargon in a sentence?
Jargon sentence example. We also believe in not using marketing jargon or spiel. First spend 20 minutes talking loudly to him in incomprehensible jargon . … At first he tried law, but was unable to give his mind to a study which appeared to him to be merely a barren waste of technical jargon .
What is jargon in communication examples?
Jargon is occupation-specific language used by people in a given profession, the “shorthand” that people in the same profession use to communicate with each other. For example, plumbers might use terms such as elbow, ABS, sweating the pipes, reducer, flapper, snake, and rough-in.
33 related questions found
How do you explain jargon?
Jargon is a literary term that is defined as the use of specific phrases and words in a particular situation, profession, or trade. These specialized terms are used to convey hidden meanings accepted and understood in that field.
What is slang and jargon?
Slang is actually quite difficult to define. It’s a very colloquial variety of language; we use it in highly informal situations, in speech, and with people very much from a similar social background to us. … Jargon, on the other hand, is the variety of language that belongs to a specific profession or activity.
What is a jargon sentence?
Jargon is the term for specialized or technical language that is only understood by those who are members of a group or who perform a specific trade. … Writers sometimes use jargon to appeal to a specific group, or to embed a hidden meaning behind their writing that only certain groups would understand.
How do you use jargon?
How to Use Jargon
- Example 1: Phrase in Plain English: She has a sore throat.
- Phrase in Medical Jargon: The female patient is experiencing pharyngitis. …
- Example 2: Phrase in Plain English. She was unhappy with the service.
- Phrase in Service Jargon: The client reported a negative end-user perspective.
Why do we use jargon?
To specialized audiences, jargon is precise and marks professionals in the discipline. The terms are somewhat obscure and often intimidating to others. Jargon, as a negative term refers to wordy, ponderous, inflated phrasing used by writers to make their ideas sound profound and their prose sound impressive.
What is jargon language?
‘ Jargon is the language of specialized terms used by a group or profession. It’s common shorthand among experts and used sensibly can be a quick and efficient way of communicating.
Is jargon good or bad?
Jargon can serve an important and necessary function in language. … These groups use language to define themselves and help them to recognize their own. Besides being a part of a group’s brand, jargon is also often a useful style of shorthand that allows experts in a narrow field to converse quickly.
What are the different types of jargon?
6 TYPES OF MODERN JARGON TO AVOID IN YOUR FUNDRAISING APPEAL:
- A “clinical” or “official” or “specialist” word. …
- A term of art. …
- A word that’s seldom part of every day usage. …
- A pompous, “big” word. …
- An acronym. …
- An over-used phrase.
What is jargon and its types?
Like a secret “insider” language, jargon is terminology only understood by people in a certain group. … However, jargon is like a type of shorthand between members of a particular group of people, often involving words that are meaningless outside of a certain context.
What are the two kinds of jargon?
In my various careers, I have become intimately familiar with two kinds of jargon: academic jargon and software jargon. I will discuss academic jargon first, and see if it sheds any light on software jargon. The English word jargon is derived from the Old French word meaning “a chattering,” for instance of birds.
Who should use jargon?
You’ll need jargon when you’re talking to a technical audience about a technical topic. Using vague layman’s translations in a specialist industry conversation is only going to obscure meaning. Plus, if you fail to use the correct terminology, you risk appearing incompetent.
When should you not use jargon?
Why we should avoid jargon
- 1) There is often a better way to say things.
- 2) Some devspeak words carry connotations that only hurt people.
- 3) Buzzwords lose meaning.
- 4) Using jargon doesn’t make us sound smarter.
- Related Posts.
Why you should not use jargon?
At best, jargon risks confusing the audience through wordiness or the use of obscure terms. At worst, it completely defeats the intent of the writer to communicate with clarity. Therefore, you should generally avoid using jargon unless you define the words for your readers who may not understand them.
How do you use jargon in a sentence?
specialized technical terminology characteristic of a particular subject.
- He always speaks in obscure legal jargon.
- Can you help me translate this legal jargon into plain English?
- The jargon in his talk was opaque to me.
- The offer was couched in legal jargon.
- «All necessary means» is diplomatic jargon for «war».
Is jargon a slang?
The main difference between Jargon and Slang is, Jargon is terminology that is used in relation to a specific activity, profession, group, or event whereas slang is the use of informal words and expressions that are not considered standard in the speaker’s dialect or language.
What is the example of Litotes?
Litotes is a figure of speech and a form of understatement in which a sentiment is expressed ironically by negating its contrary. For example, saying «It’s not the best weather today» during a hurricane would be an example of litotes, implying through ironic understatement that the weather is, in fact, horrible.
What does the word jargon mean today?
Jargon usually means the specialized language used by people in the same work or profession. … This noun can also refer to language that uses long sentences and hard words.
What is the difference between jargon and register?
Jargon can be informal or formal, depending on the profession or the group. Register has to to with the style of one’s language: formal as opposed to informal, serious as opposed to easygoing, friendly and familiar as opposed to more respectful and distant.
Is LOL a slang word?
The internet slang term «LOL» (laughing out loud) has been added to the Oxford English Dictionary, to the mild dismay of language purists. … The popular initialism LOL (laughing out loud) has been inducted into the canon of the English language, the Oxford English Dictionary.
Definition of Jargon
Jargon is a specialized set of terms and language that is used in a particular context and setting. It is especially common to find jargon in an industry, such as in law, medicine, academia, or an art or sport. People who are not a part of this industry or group may not be able to understand the jargon used, as the words are either obscure terms or have different definitions than the regular usage of the word. Jargon is used to provide more efficient communication between members of a certain group, though at times it can also be used to exclude others who are not part of the group or to show one’s own belonging to the group. Some jargon that is used enough in a group can become more widely understood and adopted into common usage, such as technological terms like “byte” and “RAM,” or nautical phrases like “anchor’s aweigh” and “all hands on deck.”
The word jargon originally comes from the Latin term gaggire, which means “to chatter.” Chatter was language which the listener didn’t understand, like the chatter of birds. This term was adopted into French and then Middle English, in which there was a verb, jargounen, with the same meaning as the Latin. Thus, the definition of jargon comes from a sense of the listener being unable to understand the meaning behind the noise.
Difference Between Jargon, Slang, and Colloquialism
There are similarities between the definitions of jargon, slang, and colloquialism, as they are all terms referring to specified language only used by certain groups. Colloquialisms are specific terms and phrases that are informal and often idiomatic. Colloquialisms are often bounded by a geographical region, like the variation in the United States of where the words “soda,” “pop,” “soft drink,” and “Coke” are used. Colloquialisms are not bounded by age or class. Slang, while also being informal language, is generally used in social groups such as by teenagers. Thus, slang is bounded by geography, age, and class as well.
Jargon, on the other hand, can be understood by anyone who is part of an industry, and thus the individual often makes a choice of whether or not he or she is a part of that group. Jargon is limited not by region, class, or age, but instead by the choices that a person makes to join a sport, participate in a certain art form, or take on a certain career.
Common Examples of Jargon
There are many different industries and groups which have their own jargon. Here are just a few examples of jargon from different groups:
Architecture Jargon
- Chimera: A fantastical or grotesque figure used for decorative purposes in a building.
- Molding: Decorative finishing strip at transitions between surfaces.
- Narthex: A passage between the main entrance and main body of a church.
Mathematical Jargon
- Q.E.D: Quod erat demonstrandum in Latin, meaning “which was to be demonstrated,” and placed at the end of mathematical proofs.
- Vanish: To take on the value of 0.
- Deep vs. elementary: A proof is deep if it requires concepts more advanced than the original concept to explain that original concept, while it is elementary if the proof only needs fundamental concepts to explain something.
Musical Jargon
- Allegro: Cheerful or brisk tempo.
- Coda: Ending section of music.
- Piano vs. forte: Quiet vs. loud.
Football Jargon
- Safety: A slightly rarer form of scoring points, in which an offensive player is tackled in his own end zone while holding the football; worth 2 points.
- Facemask: A penalty of gripping an opponent’s protective mask over his mouth; worth 15 yards.
- Wide receiver: A player on the offense who generally runs downfield to catch the football.
Poker Jargon
- River: The final card dealt in a poker hand (in Texas hold ‘em style, this is the fifth card placed in the center of the table).
- Call: To match a bet from another player.
- Big blind: The larger of two set amounts of betting.
Significance of Jargon in Literature
An author might choose to use jargon in a work of literature to show that a character is truly a part of the profession that he or she is supposed to have. Jargon can lend an air of credibility, and help readers suspend their disbelief.
Examples of Jargon in Literature
Example #1
PORTIA
Why doth he pause? take thy forfeiture.
SHYLOCK
Give me my principal, and let me go.
BASSANIO
I have it ready for thee; here it is.
PORTIA
He hath refused it in the open court:
He shall have merely justice and his bond.
(The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare)
In this example of jargon, William Shakespeare sets a very important scene in a courtroom. Several characters use different legal terms in this short excerpt, including “forfeiture,” “principal,” and “bond.” All of these terms are specific to the act of lending and borrowing and carry specific legal meaning.
Example #2
The Ministry of Truth, which concerned itself with news, entertainment, education, and the fine arts. The Ministry of Peace, which concerned itself with war. The Ministry of Love, which maintained law and order. And the Ministry of Plenty, which was responsible for economic affairs. Their names, in Newspeak: Minitrue, Minipax, Miniluv, and Miniplenty.
(1984 by George Orwell)
George Orwell created some interesting examples of jargon in his dystopian novel 1984. In this quote from the novel, Orwell shows how the jargon both obfuscates the real purpose of each ministry and how their abbreviations can further make them incomprehensible to regular people.
Example #3
The things they carried were largely determined by necessity. Among
the necessities or near-necessities were P-38 can openers, pocket knives,heat tabs, wristwatches, dog tags, mosquito repellent, chewing gum, candy, cigarettes, salt tablets, packets of Kool-Aid, lighters, matches, sewing kits, Military Payment Certificates, C rations, and two or three canteens of water. Together, these items weighed between 15 and 20 pounds, depending upon a man’s habits or rate of metabolism. Henry Dobbins, who was a big man, carried extra rations; he was especially fond of canned peaches in heavy syrup over pound cake. Dave Jensen, who practiced field hygiene, carried a toothbrush, dental floss, and several hotel-sized bars of soap he’d stolen on R&R in Sydney, Australia. Ted Lavender, who was scared, carried tranquilizers until he was shot in the head outside the village of Than Khe in mid-April. By necessity, and because it was SOP, they all carried steel helmets that weighed 5 pounds including the liner and camouflage cover. They carried the standard fatigue jackets and trousers. Very few carried underwear. On their feet they carried jungle boots—2.1 pounds—and Dave Jensen carried three pairs of socks and a can of Dr. Scholl’s foot powder as a precaution against trench foot.
(“The Things They Carried” by Tim O’Brien)
Tim O’Brien is a Vietnam War veteran, and brilliantly uses jargon examples in this famous short story, “The Things They Carried.” O’Brien alternates between the very specific items that only war veterans would really understand, such as “P-38 can openers,” “Military Payment Certificates,” and “SOP,” and ordinary items that everyone can comprehend, like chewing gum and dental floss. In this way, he both makes the war seem relatable and completely foreign to the average reader.
Test Your Knowledge of Jargon
1. Which of the following statements is the best jargon definition?
A. Language that is used as a shorthand for people in a certain industry.
B. Language that is used by people of certain age group or social class.
C. Language that is used by people in a specific geographical region.
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2. Which of the following quotes from William Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice contains an example of jargon?
A. SHYLOCK: A Daniel come to judgment! yea, a Daniel!
O wise young judge, how I do honour thee!
B. PORTIA: Why, this bond is forfeit.
C. ANTONIO: [I] stand indebted, over and above,
In love and service to you evermore.
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3. Consider the following quote from Tim O’Brien’s “The Things They Carried”:
In certain heavily mined AOs, where the land was dense with Toe Poppers and Bouncing Betties, they took turns humping a 28-pound mine detector. With its
headphones and big sensing plate, the equipment was a stress on the lower back and shoulders, awkward to handle, often useless because of the shrapnel in the earth, but they carried it anyway, partly for safety, partly for the illusion of safety.
Which of the following words is a jargon example?
A. Humping
B. Headphones
C. Shrapnel
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