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25 - The Hindu - 23062022 - KYE

Jargon refers to unintelligible or unfamiliar terminology used by a particular profession. The document provides an example of a plumber who struggled to understand bureaucratic jargon in correspondence. It also notes that writers should avoid using jargon and long words to make their writing more clear and accessible.

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Srikanth gedela
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15 views1 page

25 - The Hindu - 23062022 - KYE

Jargon refers to unintelligible or unfamiliar terminology used by a particular profession. The document provides an example of a plumber who struggled to understand bureaucratic jargon in correspondence. It also notes that writers should avoid using jargon and long words to make their writing more clear and accessible.

Uploaded by

Srikanth gedela
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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June 2022

“Good morning, sir.” Finally the Bureau wrote thus: “Don’t use
hydrochloric acid. It eats the hell out of
“Good morning.”
pipes.” Well, the plumber didn’t use it. The
“Sir, could you give some sentences with plumber understood when it was written in
ago, since and for?” plain English. He had not understood earlier
as it was all written in jargon.
“I’ll ask a few questions and you answer them.
When did your father come here?” Jargon means ‘unintelligible or meaningless
talk or writing familiar only to a group or
“In 1964.” “He came 20 years ago.” “Yes sir.” profession’, it is full of special words known
“He has been here since 1964?” “Yes sir.” only to the members of a group. Each
“How long has he been here?” “He has been profession has its own jargon or special
here for 20 years, sir.” vocabulary. When it is used outside the group,
it becomes unintelligible. You have medical
“So he came here 20 years ago. He has been jargon, legal jargon, commercial jargon,
here since 1964. He has been here for twenty bureaucratic jargon and so on. When people
years.” tend to use long words or try to say
“What is the meaning of ‘it will cut no ice’ something in a roundabout fashion, you find it
sir?” difficult to understand them. Jargon is also
defined as ‘speech or writing full of long,
“It means that it will have no effect or unfamiliar or roundabout words or phrases’.
influence. It won’t make any impression
whatsoever. It is pointless to mention this to Writers afflicted by jargon don’t use things
him. It will cut no ice with him. It means that it but only utilise them; they never do anything
won’t have any effect on him. This is always but only perform; they don’t carry out but
used in the negative. You don’t ever say ‘This always implement something. I will continue
will cut ice with him’.” with this next week. It’s getting late for you.
Goodbye.”
“What is the meaning of ‘jargon’, sir?” “It’s a
big question. “Thank you, sir. Goodbye.

First let me give you an example. An American


plumber wrote to the Bureau of Standards in
America saying that he found hydrochloric
acid good for cleaning clogged drains. He
wanted to know whether he was doing the
right thing. The Bureau replied; “The efficacy
of hydrochloric acid is indisputable, but the
corrosive residue is incompatible with metallic
permanence.” The plumber wrote back and
said he was happy that they agreed. The
Bureau wrote again: “We cannot assume
responsibility for the production of toxic and
noxious residues with hydrochloric acid and
suggest that you use an alternative
procedure.” The plumber wrote again saying
how happy he was that they agreed with him.

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