We explain what slang is, its differences with a dialect and types that exist. Also, examples of jargon from different fields.
What is lingo?
A jargon is the language A special group that a particular human group uses, generally of a professional nature or linked to a certain trade, to communicate with each other. Such language often cannot be understood by those outside the circle or unfamiliar with the terminology.
The word slang comes from French gargun, a onomatopoeia from the twelfth century to refer to the song of birds, and which figuratively later came to designate the vulgar speech of thieves or criminals. This sense is shared with words such as slang or germania, with which it presents some semantic differences: jargon not only refers to vulgar or criminal speech, but can also refer to professional or specialized technical language.
However, jargon should not be confused with dialect, which is a geographical variant of the language, shared by all its speakers in the same location. Slang belongs to specific groups whose modes of speech differ from the usual language, even within the same language. geographic region.
Types of jargons
Jargon can be classified as follows:
- Jargon professional. That which belongs to a sector of professionals or of those who exercise a specific trade, and which allows them to communicate with each other efficiently through technical or specialized terms, or turns of business. idiom that are exclusive to happiness community speaking. For example: medical jargon, legal jargon.
- Social jargon. That which belongs to an area of the society You want to communicate cryptically, that is, without being understood by others, usually for secrecy or fellowship purposes. For example: prison jargon, criminal jargon.
- Regional jargon. That which belongs to a specific regional community, such as a neighborhood, or certain cultural communities, such as an ethnic group, which through their own vocabulary seek to separate themselves from the rest of the speakers of society and to be able to recognize each other. For example: the jargon of the Bronx (a neighborhood in New York), the adolescent youth jargon.
Examples of jargons
Here are some detailed examples of jargon:
- Mexican youth slang. As the youth slang of other countries, it is very creative, innovative and in it the incorporation of other languages is frequent. Terms such as "a egg" (by dint of), "a skid" (on foot), "go down!" Are common. (don't bother), "fall down!" (pay) or "to die" (a lot).
- Legal or legal jargon. It refers to the specialized terminology of lawyers and judges, in which Latinisms such as “habeas corpus"Or"quid pro quo”, Among other technical terms such as“ warning ”,“ fair price ”,“ condonation ”or“ abrogation ”.
- The medical jargon. Used by health professionals, it uses biological, chemical and biochemical terms that are incomprehensible to the ordinary public, such as "autolysis", "idiopathic", "meteorism", "aerophagia" or "halitosis".