Jargon vs. Slang - And How We Treat Them Differently

Let me start by saying this post is an observation. I don't intend to make an explicit point. That said, I think this is a topic that many regular readers of this blog have an interest in. With that in mind, I invite you to share your opinion or add your observations in the comments. If you like, I'll even update the postscript of this post with your text (anonymously if you like). If you want to add your story to the text of the post, e-mail me: neil dot tambe at gmail dot com.

An observation: we evaluate jargon and slang differently

I was out with some friends, and because most of them are former (or current) teachers in Detroit we often discuss topics related to education or their students. This past weekend, we started discussing some of the slang used by Detroit students. Here are the highlights:

• "You're telling a story" or "You're boostin" = You're lying
• "That [shirt, or something else someone is wearing] is crispy" = That [shirt, or something else someone is wearing] looks really good
• "Why are you finessing my shirt?" = Why are you stealing my shirt?
• "What up doe" = YES, I AFFIRM WHAT YOU ARE SAYING AND IT IS GREAT, or, what's up?

For a moment, forget about any improper use of grammar embedded within these phrases (which I might add, I like some of them a lot...they're fun). Focus on the slang. In contrast, here are some highlights of the corporate jargon I heard (and unfortunately used, sometimes) as a consultant:

• "We need you to take ownership of that work" = We need you to be responsible for that work
• "We're boiling the ocean" = We're attempting to solve more problems than we have the capacity to handle
• "We will start with the marketing piece, then continue with the finance piece" = We will start with the work we need to do related to marketing, and then continue with the work we need to do related to finance
• "I'll reach out next to touch base so we can find a time to connect about best practices we can use for the project" = I will contact you so we can meet to talk about the advice you have (based on your experience) that we can apply to accomplish the goals of this project

Both sets of phrases - the slang and the jargon - are equally contrived and imprecise. If anything, the jargon is more vacuous and sterile. To be fair, the jargon and the slang carry meaning within the communities of their use; the words do give common understanding of an idea.

What is interesting, however, is that we generally perceive the slang as an indication of immaturity and the jargon as professionally acceptable (albeit annoying). We judge the slang and assimilate the jargon, even though the contexts of usage are similar.

That's interesting, isn't it?