Jargon


 * __Jargon __**
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|| **Definition: ** Jargon includes special words and phrases that are only used or understood by people in the same kind of work. This word usually shows that you don’t like this kind of language. （ Macmillan English-Chinese Dictionary, 2005) People tend to associate it with medical or legal professions instead of daily conversation. As for a jargonaut who studies jargon, jargon was invented for a more convenient use rather than intentional confusion. (1)

**Who Uses Jargon? ** ①groups with a similar interest, such as trades or professions ②  people involved in sports or other casual groups ③  medical or legal professions instead of everyday conversations.
 * Generally speaking, there are about three types of people. (1) **

**Advantages & Disadvantages ** People who use jargon may find a sense of belonging to a special group. They are easy to make friends in this group, and easy to communicate with each other using comparatively short sentences instead of long and explanatory sentences.

For those who do not understand the special language, jargon is like a barrier that keeps them from getting into that area. They may think that those who use jargon a lot just to show off their intelligence or confuse others. (1)  **Jargon VS Slang ** People always compare slang with jargon. According to Macmillan English-Chinese Dictionary, slang is defined as “words or expressions that are very informal and are not considered suitable for more formal situations.” Sometimes, people treat slang as useless words. The word “say” can be slang when used at the beginning of a sentence and would mean “tell me”, like “Say, what are you doing?” (2)

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Jargon is more formal and is considered to be technical terminology. It usually is used by people who have some special knowledge. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Here is an example of difference between slang and jargon: (3)
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Did you //hook up// with him? (Slang) **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Get me his //vitals//. (Medical jargon) **

**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 20px;">Examples: ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">1、Some common words can be used as jargon <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">① **Consideration** is a very common word. We all know it means careful thought about something. The phrase “in consideration of something” means in exchange for something or as a payment for something in legal profession.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">② In NASA jargon, the meaning of “**resources**” is money, which is different from the meaning in “natural resources”. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">2、Different types of jargon <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">① Medical Jargon: (4) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">(The definitions are found in the Macmillan English-Chinese Dictionary.)
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Aneurysm **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">: //a serious swelling in the wall of an artery ( =tube carrying blood around the body)//
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Angioplasty **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">: //a medical operation to repair an artery ( =tube carrying blood around the body) that has become blocked or too narrow//
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Leprosy **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">: //a serious disease that affects the skin, nerves, and bones and can cause people’s fingers and toes to fall off//
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Antigen **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">: //a harmful substance that causes your body to produce antibodies to fight//
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Tonsillectomy **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">: //a medical operation to remove your tonsils//

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">② Financial Jargon (5) **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Chattels **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">: property other than real estate. Moveable possessions which may be included in a sale, for example, furniture. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">③ Legal Jargon
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Appreciation **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">: the increase in the value of property caused by economic factors like inflation, or an excess of demand over supply for that property type.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Unencumbered **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">: usually describes a property free of mortgage interests
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Affidavit **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">: //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">a legal document containing a written promise that ////<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">something is true //
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Certiorari **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">: //a writ from a higher court to a lower one requesting a transcript of the proceedings of a case for review.//
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Circuit court: **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">a state court that holds sessions at several different places within a judicial district.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">④Scientific Jargon Today, the television play The Big Bang Theory is very popular. The four chief characters—Sheldon, Leonard, Howard and Raj—use jargon a lot. What they say is very hard for Penny, a waitress, to understand. During the process, we can find lots of fun and have a better understanding about the scientific jargon.

Here are some **examples**: <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">i <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px; text-align: left;">ii
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Penny **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">: Oh,I always tear up, when the Grinch's heart grows three sizes.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Sheldon **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">: Tears seem appropriate.Enlargement of the heart muscle, or hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a serious disease

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: 宋体; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;">⑤Workplace Jargon <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: 宋体; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;">**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">“Workplace Jargon" **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"> is a term used mainly in the Britain to describe the needless or meaningless sentences and phrases used by both managers and colleagues in the workplace instead of plain English. It is also known as "corporate speak", "corporate nonsense" and "buzz phrase" in the UK, where these three phrases have a slightly different meaning to the U.S. interpretation and Corporate speak.” (6)

Here are some examples: (6) <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: 宋体; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;"> **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Blue sky thinking **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">:Idealistic or visionary ideas - not always with practical application (source: BBC)
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Deep dive **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">:getting into the detail
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">In the loop **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">:knowing what's going on and being kept informed

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;">After learning so many examples, I hope people can change the opinions towards jargon. Sometimes, it is very annoying and confusing, when people keep talking about something you do not understand. However, they may not deliberately use these terminologies. It is also a way to show their expertise during interview. **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 20px;">Exercises: ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 17px;">I also find some interesting exercise. <span style="font-family: 仿宋; font-size: 17px;">（ <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 17px;">1 <span style="font-family: 仿宋; font-size: 17px;">） <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 17px;">Each of the following sets of words will come from a particular occupation. Determine which occupation would use the words and what would you think each word would mean. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 17px;">1- Alfalfa, Butcher, Cats, Horse, Possom Belly <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 17px;">2- Bibles, Heralds, Jonah's Luck, Lot, Sky Boards <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 17px;">3- Larry, Jill, Joey, Hey Ruby, Big Bertha <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 17px;">4- Layout Man, Main Guy, Spec Girl, 24hr Man, Web Girl
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 17px;">Jargon Exercise (Group Work) **

**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 20px;">References: ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">(1) <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">[] <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px; text-align: left;">(2) http://www.yourdictionary.com/grammar/examples/examples-of-jargon.html <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px; text-align: left;">(3) http://www.buzzle.com/articles/jargon-examples.html <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px; text-align: left;">(4)Yang Xinzhang: (2009): English Lexicology: A Coursebook. Beijing: Higher Education Press.p126 <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px; text-align: left;">(5) [] <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px; text-align: left;">(6) [] **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 20px;">External Links: ** <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px; text-align: left;">More political jargon: <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px; text-align: left;">[] <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px; text-align: left;">More examples of jargon: <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px; text-align: left;">[] <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px; text-align: left;">More medical jargon: <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px; text-align: left;">[] <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px; text-align: left;">More details about jargon: <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">[] 1