SLANG VERSUS JARGON

SLANG VERSUS JARGON

Slang and Jargon together are parts of a colloquial vocabulary of English language. They both are very confusing processes in everyday vocabulary usage.

So, first of all we will apply to a dictionary explanation in a way to understand the difference between these, too similar words.

SLANG (1)

Slang in Oxford dictionary is:1) (n)a type of language consisting of words and

phrases that are regarded as very informal, are more common in speech than writing, and are typically restricted to a particular context or group of people. For example in army slang ’’ the grass’’ is slang for marijuana.

2) Words and expressions that are informal and not standard English. Different social groups often use a special vocabulary. Sometimes this is fairly widespread and well understood. Some slang is confined to small tightly knit groups who can use it to exclude outsiders. Slang is also often sexual or scatological.

SLANG (2)

In other words Slang is the use of informal words and expressions that are not considered standard in the speaker's language or dialect but are considered acceptable in certain social settings. And it is created by someone or a group of people have as shared expressions.. Slang expressions may act as euphemisms and may be used as a means of identifying with one's peers.

They may be new words or old ones used with a new meaning. The desire to say old things in a new way leads to slang. When something becomes very common in our daily life, we are likely to make up new words for it. Slang is a part of every profession, trade, sport, school, and social group.

SLANG (3)

Sometimes slang is used in a way that seems to be cruel or unkind, as when a person is called a jerk. Most slang is limited to certain areas.

But some words, such as “okay,” are carried around the world by newspapers, radio, television, motion pictures, and tourists.

Slang is popular because it is catchy and timely. Most slang has a very short life. It meets a momentary need or expresses a temporary opinion.

Yet some words now considered standard began as slang. These include words such as taxi, flapjack, hoax, bogus, skyscraper, and fan (from fanatic).

SLANG (4)

Slang often involves the creation of new meanings for existing words. It is common for such novel meanings to diverge significantly from the standard meaning. Thus, "cool" and "hot" can both mean "very good," "impressive," or "good-looking".

Slang terms are often known only within a clique or ingroup. For example, Leet ("Leetspeak" or "1337") was originally popular only among certain Internet subcultures, such as crackers and online video gamers.

SLANG(5)

During the 1990s, and into the early 21st century, however, Leet became increasingly more commonplace on the Internet, and it has spread outside Internet-based communication and into spoken languages.

Other types of slang include SMS language used on mobile phones, and "chatspeak," (e.g., "LOL", an acronym meaning "laughing out loud" or "laugh out loud" or ROFL, "rolling on the floor laughing"), which used to be widely used in instant messaging on the Internet in the early 2000s.

SLANG (6)

Slang is invented the same way formal language is. Its basis is usually metaphor. A metaphor is a word or phrase that ordinarily means one thing but is used for another thing to suggest a likeness between the two.

Money, for example, is called bacon, loot, dough, bucks, and bread.

One’s home is referred to as a pad, shack, dump, diggings, or hole in the wall.

Failure is referred to as blowing it, hitting a foul ball, flunking, or running into a stone wall.

To be discharged from a job is to be sacked, bounced, fired, or axed.

SLANG(7)

People often object to slang. They feel it is impolite or weakens a person’s vocabulary. Yet slang can enliven speech and writing when used appropriately.

A command over language involves the power to make up new expressions or use old expressions for new purposes.

SLANG (8)

We can find out a big list of slang. For example in American slang there are: Ace-with meaning very good(He's an ace

reporter) Bad- means intense(Wow, that was really a

bad movie.) Beemer-means B.M.W car(He just bought a

new beemer to drive to work in.) Blow-means leave(I am going to blow out of

here now) Fox-attractive person(His older sister is a fox)

e.t.c

SLANG(9)

Also in British English there are: Adam and Eva –means to belive(Ido not

Adam and Eva in it.); afty -means Afternoon. (Are you going to

watch the game this afty?); Article-means an objectionable person

(Come on, go and tidy your bedroom you lazy article);

antwacky -means old fashioned. Possibly from antique(y) or antiquated. (Oh no way! I'm not wearing those shoes, they're so antwacky.);

JARGON

What about a Jargon? In a Oxford dictionary it is defined as : (1)the language, especially the vocabulary,

peculiar to a particular trade, profession, or group: medical jargon.

(2)unintelligible or meaningless talk or writing; gibberish.

(3)any talk or writing that one does not understand.

(4)language that is characterized by uncommon or pretentious vocabulary and convoluted syntax and is often vague in meaning.

JARGON (1)

Jargon is a term that is used to describe a set of words that have a specific meaning in a specific context.

Jargon, the terminology of a science, technology, art, profession, trade, or craft. The term has also come to mean the “officialese” of government.

(Jargon is originally an Old French word meaning “warbling of birds.”)

JARGON (2)

The philosophe 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.’’

JARGON (3)

In earlier times, the term jargon would refer to trade languages used by people who spoke different native tongues to communicate.

In other words, the term covers the language used by people who work in a particular area or who have a common interest.

Much like slang, it can develop as a kind of shorthand, to express ideas that are frequently discussed between members of a group, though it can also be developed deliberately using chosen terms.

A standard term may be given a more precise or unique usage among practitioners of a field.

JARGON(4)

In Britain, government jargon is called “Whitehallese”;

in the United States, “Federal prose” or “gobbledygook” (from the gobbling noise of the turkey cock).

Jargon may be defined as a cod within a code, that is special meanings of words that are imposed on the recognized code-the dictionary meaning of the words.

The word grease means-money;a tiger hunter-is a gambler;a lexer is a student preparing for a law course;

JARGON(5)

Examples of Medical Jargon: Agonal - Term to signify a major, negative

change in a patient’s condition BP - Medical shorthand for blood pressure FX - Medical jargon meaning bone fracture JT - A joint NPO - A patient should not take anything by

mouth IM - Intramuscular K - The elemental symbol for potassium

JARGON(6)

Examples of Business Jargon: Bang for the buck - A term that means, to get

the most for your money Due diligence - Putting effort into research

before making a business decision Sweat equity - Getting a stake in the

business instead of pay The 9-to-5 - Business jargon meaning a

standard work day Chief cook and bottle-washer - A person who

holds many responsibilities

JARGON(7)

Examples of Police Jargon: Suspect - A person whom the police think

may have committed a crime 10-4 - Radio jargon meaning Okay or I

understand Code Eight - Term that means officer needs

help immediately Code Eleven - A code that means the

individual is at the scene of the crime FTP - The failure of an individual to pay a fine Assumed room temperature: An individual

has died

JARGON(8)

Examples of Military Jargon: TD - Temporary duty AWOL - Absent without leave SQDN - A squadron SAM - Surface-to-Air missile PCS - A permanent change of station LES - Leave and earning statemen

JARGON(9)

Examples of Political Jargon: Left wing - Political jargon for liberal,

progressive viewpoint Right wing - Jargon meaning a conservative

viewpoint Getting on a soapbox - Making a speech in

public POTUS - President of the United States SCOTUS - Supreme Court of the United States

JARGON (10)

Examples of Internet Jargon: BTW - By the way CYA - See you around FAQ - Frequently asked questions HTH - Hope this helps MOTD - Message of the day YMMV - Your mileage may vary IIRC - If I remember correctly IANAL - I am not a lawyer LOL - Laugh out loud BFF - Best friends forever TTYL - Talk to you later

SLANG VERSUS JARGON (END)

In conclusion we can say that slang is used to escape the dull familiarity of standard words, it suggest to escape from the established routine of everyday life. Also people use slang in order to sound modern and up-to-date.

But unfortunately jargon which is created to promote secrecy and keep outsiders in the dark it lost it’s special quality because it belongs to all social groups and it is easily understood by most of people.

END

So it is hard to draw a line between slang and jargon because when jargons becomes common it has passed on a higher step on a ladder of word groups and becomes slang or colloquial. That is why a lot of words can be confused.