Types of Jargon with examples

The slang word comes from French. The origin derives from “gargon”, which was the language used by thieves. Before that, there was the word gargun , which referred to the chirping of birds. Gargun , in turn, derives from the Latin gurges, gurgitis with a meaning of abyss or whirlwind .

Slang is a special language of a differentiated social group that is only used by the speakers of that social group themselves. This particular language can be difficult to understand for those people who are not part of that particular social group.

This kind of “dialect” is born by the need of social groups to hide the meaning of certain words. In prison jargon, for example, prisoners use a certain language that only they understand and that prevents security guards from knowing what they are talking about. But in jargon there is a drawback, which are usually temporary words for the most part. Once they are extended, they are no longer useful to the social group and they are no longer used.

Also, there are several types of jargon and levels . The jargon in a family environment will not be the same as the jargon used in the most disadvantaged groups. In addition, there are also jargons that arise due to geographical reasons and that, over time, become part of the regional dialect itself. This will depend a lot on the length of the word and the acceptance by the whole group of speakers of that particular dialect.

We can establish two large groups of jargon, although there are also smaller or more recent jargon groups that are not yet settled. Which are?

1-Social

As the name implies, social jargon are those that are created as an identity to differentiate from other people or social groups. For example, young people have their own defined jargon. They use a code that only those who belong to that social group can understand. It is necessary to point out, in the case of young people, that the jargon will vary depending on the locality and even the neighborhood. It should be noted that in this area, the definition of jargon can be confused with slang. Jargon and its Types with examples in detail

2-Professional

People who belong to a certain work environment can develop a specific type of language for their profession. This language is only shared by the team that belongs to said work environment.

In this case there is no interest in hiding the meaning of the words, as it happens in other types of jargon, but a specific term for a specific action or instrument is needed. That is precisely why it is not usually easy to follow a conversation between two professionals in a sector.

Example: Dyspnea is a term used by medical professionals. For us, dyspnea has no meaning, but for them it is the “feeling of shortness of breath that causes respiratory distress.” This is called medical jargon.

3-Regional

Although it is often referred to as a dialect , there are some variations of the language in the same dialect. For example, in the same city, in different neighborhoods, they can use different words to understand each other and that others cannot follow the conversation. Jargon and its Types with examples in detail

4-Technological

Due to the evolution of technology, today there is technological jargon, that is, the language used in SMS, WhatsApp messages or social networks. A clear example is the “xD” that younger people use to simulate a laugh.

Examples of professional and social jargons