He includes the following words in his list of examples:. Menu plainlanguage. Why use plain language? History and timeline Get involved About Search Search. Thinking outside the box Value added Best practice For all intents and purposes Touch base Integrating quality solutions Promoting an informed and synergistic teams Strategically engaging departments, and so on…. Previous Avoid noun strings. Next Minimize abbreviations.
Perhaps the strongest argument against using jargon is that you can lose your audience. Simple language does not necessitate simple concepts. Specialized language keeps you stuck in a silo. Jargon can even generate suspicion. And not all jargon is alike. I can also help you reformulate a problem statement to have an optimal attitudinal fit with your core constituency. I particularly dislike jargon that obfuscates. J Jargon-laden prose is , to me, particularly unacceptable in international development circles.
How can anyone in a community feel like they can participate in a process when they are, in essence, being talked at in a foreign language? Second, development jargon can sometimes have a tinge of condescension attached to it. Meanwhile, the recipient lacks agency, mutely receiving benefits and empowerment and perpetually smiling. Language matters.
The words we use shape the stories we construct of people and places, and ultimately, the policies and decisions we make.
Or if we are intentional in what we say, words can flip those narratives on their head. When did food, water, and shelter become so complicated? Perhaps jargon is a way to signal that this, too, is a professional space. Londoners will mention the tube, New Yorkers will talk about the subway, Boston natives will refer to The T. Jargon condenses meaning and allows us to share information effectively…it is deeply meaningful to the people who use it.
And jargon can aid rather than hinder the expression of meaning, and the language itself. Bloggers and writers who are trying to get their footing in a particular niche can set themselves apart with strategically used jargon.
Most industry bloggers can spot whether a writer is a novice to the field or an expert by looking at the word choice in the first few paragraphs. Take medical and legal speak for example. Someone who is looking to contribute to a law association blog where the main demographic is fellow lawyers would benefit from using jargon. As blogs become more niche, the use of jargon becomes more acceptable. Imagine reading an SEO blog where each article begins with the definition of search engine optimization.
The constant definition of words like SERPs, crawlers, anchor text , and black hat would loose thought leaders who have been familiar with those concepts since they entered the field. Look at the audience, look at your choices. If the readers are a community with a strong grasp of the industry, you can set yourself up as an expert with the use of jargon. It gives you a space to cut through basic explanations and reach the advanced levels.
Like it or not, industry jargon is part of your brand. Some products and companies embrace this, others do everything in their power to reject it. Robert W. Bly gave a hat tip BMW and Lexus for taking jargon and running with it:. Almost no one sells used cars any more. Pre-owned removes the stigma of used.
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