Apidays New York 2024 - Scaling API-first by Ian Reasor and Radu Cotescu, Adobe
Slang and jargon
1.
2. Slang in Oxford dictionary is:
• a type of language consisting of words and phrases
that are regarded as very informal, are more
common in speech than writing, and are typically
restricted to a particular context or group of
people.
• words and expressions that are informal and not
standard English. Different social groups often use
a special vocabulary. Sometimes this is fairly
widespread and well understood. Some slang is
confined to small tightly knit groups who can use
it to exclude outsiders. Slang is also often sexual or
scatological.
3. "true slang"
• It lowers, if temporarily, "the dignity of formal or serious
speech or writing"; in other words, it is likely to be
considered in those contexts a "glaring misuse of register."
• Its use implies that the user is familiar with whatever is
referred to, or with a group of people who are familiar with
it and use the term.
• "It's a taboo term in ordinary discourse with people of a
higher social status or greater responsibility. "
• It replaces "a well-known conventional synonym". This is
done primarily to avoid discomfort caused by conventional
phrases or by further elaboration.
4. The basis of slang is usually metaphor.
• Money - bacon, loot, dough, bucks, and bread.
• One’s home - pad, shack, dump, diggings, or
hole in the wall.
• Failure - blowing it, hitting a foul
ball, flunking, or running into a stone wall.
• To be discharged from a job - to be
sacked, bounced, fired, or axed.
5. American slang:
• ace - with meaning very good (He's an ace reporter);
• bad - means intense (Wow, that was really a bad movie);
• beemer - means B.M.W car (He just bought a new beemer to drive
to work in);
• blow - means leave (I am going to blow out of here now);
• fox - attractive person (His older sister is a fox).
British English :
• Adam and Eva –means to believe (I do not Adam and Eva in it);
• afty - means Afternoon. (Are you going to watch the game this
afty?);
• article - means an objectionable person (Come on, go and tidy
your bedroom you lazy article);
• antwacky - means old fashioned. Possibly from antique or
antiquated. (Oh no way! I'm not wearing those shoes, they’re so
antwacky.).
6. Jargon in Oxford dictionary is:
• the language, especially the vocabulary,
peculiar to a particular trade, profession, or
group: medical jargon;
• unintelligible or meaningless talk or writing;
gibberish;
• any talk or writing that one does not
understand;
• language that is characterized by uncommon or
pretentious vocabulary and convoluted syntax
and is often vague in meaning.
7. Examples of Medical Jargon:
• Agonal - Term to signify a major, negative
change in a patient’s condition
• BP - Medical shorthand for blood pressure
• FX - Medical jargon meaning bone fracture
• JT - A joint
• NPO - A patient should not take anything by
mouth
• IM – Intramuscular
• K - The elemental symbol for potassium
8. Examples of Political Jargon:
• Left wing - Political jargon for liberal,
progressive viewpoint
• Right wing - Jargon meaning a conservative
viewpoint
• Getting on a soapbox - Making a speech in
public
• POTUS - President of the United States
• SCOTUS - Supreme Court of the United States
9. Doublespeak is a form of jargon often used to
mislead or confuse listeners. There are two
main variations in doublespeak that relate to
jargon: persuasive and inflated doublespeak.
Both of these types of doublespeak misdirect
intentionally, therefore leading to
misconception.
10. It is hard to draw a line between slang and
jargon because when jargons becomes common
it has passed on a higher step on a ladder of
word groups and becomes slang or colloquial.