Explanation
Jargon is language associated with a field or group that can efficiently express distinctions familiar within that community. The same wording may obstruct outsiders. It includes ordinary words used in specialised senses as well as uncommon terms. Its identification is therefore relational: comprehension depends on participants' knowledge and communicative purpose. The disparaging use of “jargon” must not prejudge an analysis; precision, affiliation and exclusion are distinct possible functions.
Movement of thought
1. Identify the expression and its community. 2. Establish its specialised meaning. 3. Assess the intended audience's knowledge. 4. Test whether an explanatory version loses precision. 5. Evaluate the wording in relation to its audience.
Scientific use case
Corpus and comprehension research can investigate specialised senses, prior knowledge and successful explanations.
Example
“The feature is unmarked” may be efficient among linguists; another audience needs to know what kind of default or basic form is meant.
Counterexample
Length alone does not make a word jargon. A precise explanation of a technical term may be clearer to a novice than a short everyday expression.
Distinction
Distinguish slang, a technical term, inflated style and deliberate obscurity. Jargon is not necessarily false or manipulative.
Effect on thought and perception
Compression can accelerate communication within a group while creating barriers to entry.
Resonance
A word signals shared knowledge; who can answer depends on who knows that linguistic space.
Provenance
Parallel source review reconciled 2026-10-07; human specialist review not claimed.
Cite this entry
Reich, Michael (Hrsg./ed.): „Jargon“. Atlas der Sprache, AT-NAV-G01-009. ATLAS 259, data model 1.6.0. https://atlasoflanguage.com/concept/AT-NAV-G01-009The address remains stable; editorial content may evolve. Editorial reading state: 2026-10-15. Include your access date for precise references.