Where do jargons go when we have said them?

Scientifically, jargons are basically words and words, they are just sounds that are created from the vibration of your voice box. These soundwaves decay as they spread out and get reflected or refracted. Basically, words dissolve back into the infinite potential of the air that was used to create them. But that’s not what we are here for, right? This is the first example of why not to use jargons when not needed.

We can’t emphasize more on the fact that you must avoid jargons, the prominence is apparent in our brand’s name. If you have come across the Forbes’ The Most Annoying, Pretentious and Useless Business Jargon you might be also aware of your subconscious contribution to this problem. It has ingrained itself in our brains.

Let’s get inside the mind of someone who throws jargons like Oprah gives out cars. For a sentence as simple as, “jargons are unnecessary, ” a pretentious jargon user might say, “terminology that stays of least significance remain unwelcome.” It doesn’t matter to whom one is catering to. For a person of least intelligence, vocabulary stays insignificant and for a person of higher IQ, it would be easy for them to spot the conscious use of unnecessary jargons. From a writer’s perspective, it is probable that they use jargons to blanket the fact that they have run out of content and need to hide that inadequacy.

The less is more approach applies to language as well, simplification must always result in a more focused product and the chances of miscommunication will be nullified. Since examples work better for explaining better, we will use more of that. A classic example of the vulnerability of words is the fact that we always interchange the meanings of Branding, Marketing and Advertising. They overlap, sure, but they are most definitely not the same thing.

Moral of the story, jargons are called so for a reason. They are used for a specific reason, in absence of which they must not be used. The title of this piece was inspired by Margaret Atwood’s piece titled ‘Procedures for Unknown’ where she has questioned, “Where do words go after we have said them?” and we ask the same, where do they go? Jargons are quick escapes from conveying an accurate message.

Atwood is also the one who has conclusively said, “War is what happens when language fails.”