What Is Jargon?
Jargon is a type of language microcosm; its own linguistic choices are tied directly to a particular group. Jargon does not need to reference complex issues (although it can). It must only encapsulate niche-specific ideas in words that most people outside this niche do not understand.
The medical field, for instance, is ripe with jargon. Have you ever heard any of the following words or abbreviations, and can you guess their meaning?
- Antivert
- Hypoxia
- MVA
- U/A
In all likelihood, the only people who could define these terms are those actively practicing in the medical field. Here’s how a layperson might word these same concepts.
- Antivert: An anti-nausea medication
- Hypoxia: Oxygen-deprived
- MVA: A car accident
- U/A: A urine test
Many fields that require specialized training contain jargon. However, even casual jargon exists; consider how most adults have difficulty parsing a teen’s meaning when they say that Taylor Swift is rizzing, no cap, or that IYKYK.
The Power of Jargon
If jargon is so complicated for most people to understand, why use it? There are many reasons why jargon remains not just popular but necessary.
Specificity
Speed can mean the difference between life and death in a fast-paced environment like a combat zone or an emergency room. Jargon condenses potentially complex and lengthy concepts into singular words or phrases and can save lives and speed up operations. Even in industries where the salient risk is not so high, the specificity of jargon can leave less room for incorrect interpretation.
This desire to more accurately encapsulate concepts can be seen in perhaps unexpected places, such as the LGBTQIA+ community. Terms such as bicurious can be used to describe someone’s attractions (in this case, willing to explore same-sex relationships but content with heterosexual relationships or vice versa) in fewer words. This makes conversations related to identity less cumbersome and creates a foundation for communities of like-minded individuals.
Superiority
In some cases, groups use jargon to enforce the concept of the in- and out-group. For instance, cults often use jargon to differentiate themselves from the “lessers” outside the cult; the members of the cult who understand the jargon are more intelligent or wiser, so they are correct. This reinforces the strong social ties among cult members and decreases the chances that they will leave.
Alienation is often the primary goal of jargon, but it can also be used in cults to prop up the value of the cult leader. Leaders can make themselves seem knowledgeable and trustworthy by selecting jargon tied to a respected authority (such as peer-reviewed medical research) and repurposing it as a cult-specific term. This leads to more credence in the cult leader’s teachings, and further solidifies participants’ devotion to the in-group (and intolerance of the out-group). Whether the jargon is being used correctly is beside the point and not typically up for consideration among cult members.
Exclusivity
One of the most insidious uses of jargon is to create exclusivity. Suppose a first-generation college student from a rural area attends a course for their major, but the course regularly uses jargon. This student, whose family may not have been equipped to prepare them for college in the same way as their peers, faces a disadvantage in their learning because they have difficulty understanding the lessons. They must expend extra effort simply to digest the lesson’s content before they can further extrapolate upon it and learn, and if lessons are moving quickly, they may not even have enough time to do so.
In other words, groups can exclude people—intentionally or not—through jargon. This, in turn, has broader effects, such as decreasing lifetime opportunities for certain groups of people or reducing positive outcomes (e.g., those who do not understand medical jargon may not seek proper follow-up care).
Whether jargon is used as a beneficial tool or a means of manipulation, its role in language is here to stay. Next time you choose your words, consider whether the jargon you rely on provides value or only serves to exclude.
