technical language

Language

2022

We explain what technical language is, in what contexts it is used and its characteristics. Also, examples from various fields.

Technical language is the specialized way of speaking typical of certain trades and professions.

What is technical language?

It is known as technical language, jargon technical vocabulary, technical vocabulary or technical terminology to the vocabulary shared by those who engage in a profession, highly specialized trade or activity, and that is usually obscure or cryptic for laymen (not understood or not experienced).

In other words, it is the specialized way of speaking typical of certain trades, characterized by its own vocabulary and difficult to understand if one does not first receive adequate training in the area. This type of language is essential for communication in professional or technical environments, since it avoids wasting time thoroughly clarifying each concept, since all those involved handle a precise terminology.

Technical language is typical of professional groups, work settings, academic journals and publications, and other similar settings, from which the uninitiated are usually excluded. Which can be a challenge for the latter, of course, but also for translators who lack the grip of specialized language, since a glossary of terms or dictionary specialized.

Characteristics of technical language

Technical language is characterized by the following:

  • Employ a lexicon own and particular, with words very rare.
  • Accommodates neologisms, technicalities and punctual twists that differ from the ordinary ones.
  • It is accessible only to initiated people, that is, to those who receive a certain type of academic training, or have experience in the area.
  • The technical language of one professional field and another can be completely different.
  • It is usually compiled in dictionaries and glossaries, as it shows little individual variation and few changes over time.

Examples of technical language

Examples of technical language are:

  • The vocabulary of doctors and dentists in which complete operations are referred to by a specialized term, such as scalectomy for "dental cleaning" or thrombocytopenia for "decreased blood platelets."
  • The neologisms of contemporary technological jargon, such as router, defragment, to reset, set, log in, etc.
  • Philosophical terminology and psychoanalytic schools, which uses separate hyphenated terms (such as "being-for-the-other") or in a foreign language (such as dasein).
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