Jargon

“Is the ASM going to spike my mark down stage right? Or further out on the thrust? I want to make sure I don’t fall into the pit at fight call.”

“I would say Axis II, but clearly there is a mixed-affective state, comorbid with addictions. So we have a dual diagnosis.”

Every specialty uses its own jargon. Whatever our work niche — miner, scientist, cheerleader, lawyer, dental hygienist, jockey — we all use jargon with our peers and colleagues as a short-hand. We only run into trouble when we lose sight of our audience and use jargon that leaves them out. Or when we use jargon to impress, rather than to connect.

If our intention is to share ideas, we will remember who our audience is and use language that is accessible, clear, unambiguous.

Recently I asked a group to work in “dyads.” A VP raised his hand and asked what a “dyad” was. I felt terrible. If one person does not understand me, think of the many over the years who have not known what I meant and had not asked. I had been using the term of art from my social work background, but the more familiar term is simply, “pairs.” “Please work in pairs.”