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- Publisher
- American Medical Association
- Copyright
- Copyright © 1968 American Medical Association. All Rights Reserved. Applicable FARS/DFARS Restrictions Apply to Government Use.
- ISSN
- 0098-7484
- eISSN
- 1538-3598
- DOI
- 10.1001/jama.1968.03140170033007
- Publisher site
- See Article on Publisher Site
Abstract
In scientific writing, jargon comprises two major subdivisions. Although these may overlap and cause confusion, at their extremes they are easily distinguished. One subdivision is that of technical language; the other includes the pejorative or contemptuous connotations of jargon. That part of so-called jargon which we recognize as technical language is an acceptable and necessary part of scientific communication. Because of this I would suggest to the lexicographers that we stop using the word jargon to mean technical language, and limit "jargon" to its pejorative uses, many of which result from the abuse of technical language. Every profession and trade has its technical language, a private tongue intelligible only to initiates. Technical language serves a function which ordinary language cannot serve, or at least cannot serve without excessive wordiness. But a private language is jargon if it replaces ordinary language only to exclude persons not belonging to the clique who
Journal
JAMA – American Medical Association
Published: Apr 22, 1968