Jargon & How Power Shows Itself Through Non-Lingual Aspects

Question 1

Non-Verbal Commuication (NVC)

Answer 1

Using posture, positioning, gestures, eye contact and facial expressions to convey feelings and attitudes. For example, maintaining long periods eye contact with someone can be used to assert dominance.

Question 2

Non-Verbal Aspects of Speech

Answer 2

Pitch, intonation, volume, pace, and stressing can be used to assert dominance, and can indicate submissiveness. For example, people raise their voices in argument to be the dominant speaker.

Question 3

Standard English and Received Pronunciation

Answer 3

Varieties of English which are associated with good education and good jobs, and carry prestige. Because of this, speakers who use them are seen to have more status and authority.

Question 4

What is Jargon?

Answer 4

Specialist vocabulary used in particular fields of activity. It’s a precise form of labelling something and technical information can be communicated quickly. People who use jargon have a sense of inclusion in a group, which often brings a higher status.

Question 5

The problem with jargon.

Answer 5

1) It can cause a barrier of understanding. For example, when doctors talk to patients, they may use medical terminology the patient may not understand.
2) Non-specialists can feel intimidated by specialists and can be excluded from the high status group. Specialists have more power in this situation.
3) Specialists can use jargon to try and impress non-specialists and make them want to be part of the high status group. It can also be used to hide the true meaning of a conversation.

Question 6

Eliminating Jargon No.1 (1999)

Answer 6

Since 1999, courts have used less specialist language so non-specialists can understand.

Question 7

Eliminating Jargon No.2 (Latin)

Answer 7

The use of Latin terms has been decreased.

Question 8

Key points of the Plain English Campaign

Answer 8

• Set up in 1979
• Combats the use of confusing and unnecessary jargon
• Advises organisations on how they can use plainer language
• Organisations can apply for the Crystal Mark which shows the PEC has approved their documents (really tedious)

Question 9

What does eliminating unnecessary jargon do for society?

Answer 9

It promotes equality, because more people have more chance to understand what’s going on and specialists can’t use jargon to intimidate non-specialists.