I have been an advocate of "English Only" for many years. The modern use of this phrase refers to an official language for our country, which I also support, but I mean something else.
Every business, profession and trade has its own language. I recognize that sometimes new words are needed to describe new things but often generic words would be good enough. These unique words used by specialties require the layman to look up or learn their meanings. The definitions must be written using more familiar words so that we can learn what it is they are talking about. Why then don't they just use the words required to define them?
I know, you think I'm being "picky". I've never been a fan of jargon. Most people use it to show they are "in the know" and therefore superior while the rest of us are supposed to be dopes. In my practice, I rarely used medical or chiropractic terms when talking to my patients. Some, maybe many, would have understood what I was saying if I had, but to be certain they knew, I used regular words whenever possible.
Lawyers and politicians are the worst offenders in deliberately using words which sometimes mean the opposite from what they sound like to us or at least have several meanings so we must guess what it is they are saying. I am especially annoyed when they use a series of letters to identify a government entity or legislation. Who, unless it's your job. would know what three to ten letters, which are not a word, could possibly mean?
In the interest of brevity, I'll stop now but you get what I mean. Here's one. "KISS", keep it simple stupid.
Every business, profession and trade has its own language. I recognize that sometimes new words are needed to describe new things but often generic words would be good enough. These unique words used by specialties require the layman to look up or learn their meanings. The definitions must be written using more familiar words so that we can learn what it is they are talking about. Why then don't they just use the words required to define them?
I know, you think I'm being "picky". I've never been a fan of jargon. Most people use it to show they are "in the know" and therefore superior while the rest of us are supposed to be dopes. In my practice, I rarely used medical or chiropractic terms when talking to my patients. Some, maybe many, would have understood what I was saying if I had, but to be certain they knew, I used regular words whenever possible.
Lawyers and politicians are the worst offenders in deliberately using words which sometimes mean the opposite from what they sound like to us or at least have several meanings so we must guess what it is they are saying. I am especially annoyed when they use a series of letters to identify a government entity or legislation. Who, unless it's your job. would know what three to ten letters, which are not a word, could possibly mean?
In the interest of brevity, I'll stop now but you get what I mean. Here's one. "KISS", keep it simple stupid.
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