Definition:
“Jargon” refers to specialized language used by a particular profession, group, or activity. It consists of words and phrases that are specific to a field and may not be easily understood by those outside the group.
“Terminology” refers to the set of specialized terms and expressions used in a particular field or discipline. It encompasses the vocabulary that professionals use to discuss their subject matter precisely and accurately.
Etymology:
The term “jargon” comes from the Old French word “jargon,” meaning “a chattering.” It has been used in English since the 14th century to describe unintelligible or specialized language.
The term “terminology” comes from the Latin “terminus,” meaning “end” or “boundary,” and the Greek “logia,” meaning “study of.” It has been used in English since the early 19th century to refer to the specialized vocabulary of a field.
Description:
The key differences between terminology and jargon are that terminology is standardized, formal, and used consistently within a field. This means that different groups of people use the same terms because these are consistently recognized terms. People don’t necessarily have to learn new words to understand terminology, as they may have already learned the terms elsewhere. On the other hand, jargon is informal, can include slang and idioms, and may vary between groups. Jargon requires familiarity with the specific ideology or group and involves learning unique words or phrases not necessarily used outside that group.
The problem with terminology, and especially jargon, is the amount of gatekeeping that occurs. People (especially many capitalists) are incredibly competitive to the extent that they often see it as more beneficial to themselves not to share language, keeping others more ignorant than themselves, rather than contributing to building a better world filled with competent people willing to help each other.
The worst field for gatekeeping is the field of language. Language suffers the most from gatekeeping. Understanding jargon and terminology is especially necessary to understand how the world and the brain work. It’s within these fields that most of the language trickery occurs.
Examples of Jargon:
- “Scrum” – Technology/Project Management: A framework used in Agile project management for collaborative work.
- “Nerf” – Gaming: To reduce the effectiveness of a feature or character in a game.
- “Drop” – Music Production: A sudden change or climax in a music track, typically in electronic or pop music.
- “Circle back” – Business: To revisit a topic or issue later.
- “Hail Mary” – Sports (American Football): A desperate or last-minute pass made in an attempt to score.
- “GG” – Gaming: Short for “Good Game,” used at the end of a match to show sportsmanship.
Examples of Terminology:
- “Photosynthesis” – Science (Biology): The process by which green plants convert sunlight into energy.
- “Hypertension” – Medicine: High blood pressure
- “Prime number” – Mathematics: A number greater than 1 that has no positive divisors other than 1 and itself.
- “Asset” – Finance: Any resource owned by an individual or company that has economic value.
- “Tort” – Law: A civil wrong that causes harm or loss, leading to legal liability.
- “Plate tectonics” – Science (Geology): A theory explaining the movement of Earth’s lithospheric plates.
- “Calculus” – Mathematics: A branch of mathematics that deals with the study of rates of change and accumulation.
- “Liquidity” – Finance: The ability to quickly convert an asset into cash.
- “Harmonics” – Music Theory: Overtones that contribute to the timbre of a sound.
- “Cadence” – Music Theory: A sequence of chords that brings a section of music to a close.