What Are Jargons and Why Do You Need to Understand Them?

Jargon is a common language that helps us communicate across boundaries and foster closeness. However, they can also create distance among peers. Understanding that every perspective is critical when working on a project is essential. Even those who are not experts in a particular field can offer valuable knowledge.

Identifying Jargons

Identifying jargon is an integral part of writing. Using terminology in a scientific paper is a massive time-saver for scientists but can also alienate readers without a scientific background. To avoid alienating readers, spell out acronyms or ensure everyone understands them. Many popular scientific terms have dual meanings and should be spelled out.

Jargon is a specialized language that a group of people use to communicate. It's usually used to express a specific function and serves as a status symbol among group members. Non-members do not understand most of the jargon. For example, a plumber may use terms for plumbing and installation. Other plumbers will understand these terms, but a non-plumber will likely not. Most occupations have their jargon.

Technical Jargons

What is the definition of technical jargon? Technical jargon is used in marketing and advertising to communicate with customers. It is a way of separating the features and benefits of a product or service. The features are the product or service specifications, while the benefits are how the features will help customers. 

An example of technical jargon is "BYOD," a workplace policy that allows employees to use their technology for work-related purposes. BYOD policies require regular updates since virus threats change over time. Meanwhile, "business intelligence" (BI) is a technical infrastructure and process used to analyze data. The insights generated by BI help companies improve productivity, cut costs, and streamline operations.

Technical jargon can be hard to identify. Some words are similar to everyday slang but do not have the same meaning. If you use jargon in your job, it may seem like a great way to make a sale, but if you use it in a technical context, it might confuse people. It's difficult for people who don't know the language to understand it, resulting in miscommunication, communication issues, and isolation.

Avoiding Jargons

When you're communicating with customers, you should avoid using jargon. People often have trouble deciphering complicated terms, so it's best to keep your communication simple. You can do this by using positive, conversational language. This can help you understand the perspective of your customer and can also make you sound more friendly and personal.

Providing Context

Providing context for jargon in writing is a crucial communication element between the writer and the reader. It helps the reader understand what the writer means and builds trust between the writer and the reader. Context may come in many forms. When used correctly, context clarifies the writer's intention and makes the writing more precise. It also helps direct the reader's attention to a specific train of thought.

A good example of context is the opening phrase of a story. If the opening phrase explains what the author means by the word "hump," it helps the reader understand what the author is trying to convey. This word can have several meanings, but in this context, hump means "abject," "heavy," and "gloomy."

Context is essential in writing because it enriches a story and engages the reader. In the case of a novel, it can add background information to the character or account that the reader may not know.

Avoiding Jargon in Technical Writing

When writing technical content, it is essential to avoid jargon and acronyms, which can reduce precision and clarity. Instead, technical writing typically uses simple sentence structures, meaning one main clause that conveys the information needed. A good example is the term "photosynthesis," which explains how green leaves build up food through photosynthesis with the help of light.

The use of jargon can stretch the language barrier and create overcomplicated writing. It also indicates that the writer is trying to show off their knowledge using specialized language. The reader can easily understand and appreciate your content using the right words. If the reader can't know what you're saying, they might not read it.

While jargon is acceptable for experts, it can confuse the general public. When using terminology in technical writing, it is essential to consider the audience. For example, an audience at an academic conference will understand technical jargon, but a public lecture may not. 

To avoid this issue, you must adapt your language to the audience. Using jargon when appropriate for your audience is okay, but explain complex ideas in simple terms.