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Subject:Re: Jargon - opinions? From:Romay Jean Sitze <rositze -at- NMSU -dot- EDU> Date:Thu, 31 Aug 1995 18:44:30 -0600
On Wed, 30 Aug 1995, Cheverie, Paul [Cont] wrote:
> Jargon, IMHO, is terminology that is ideomatic and is not understood
> throughout an entire industry or technology. While a term may be in 'broad
> use' throughout an industry in a specific location, if it is not in general
> use throughout an industry in all locations it is jargon - it is the same
> thing as a local patois or slang.
> If a term is used throughout an entire industry or technology and means
> the same thing at all locations, then the term can be properly used in a
> technical publication - if it isn't, then it is jargon.
As I see it, the real problem here is that the word "jargon" can, by
definition, relate to both the universally applied terminology uniquely
charactistic to an industry, and to the more locally accepted, but not
universally understood "shop talk." Perhaps what we need to is be more
careful to define our terms in accordance with the application we desire
-- or find more precise ways to approach the topic. :)
