Slang is a technical language used by people in specific fields or hobbies, often containing jargon that is unfamiliar to outsiders. It can be used pejoratively to criticize or confuse others. Jargon is common in industries like engineering and computer science, as well as in hobbies like sports and model making. It can reflect a high level of interest or education, but can also be used to show off.
Slang is a highly specialized type of shorthand that is used among followers of a particular craft or hobby, characterized by the use of terms unfamiliar to most people. Slang speakers may also use common words in unusual ways, reflecting common usage in their group. In essence, slang is a language of technical terms and can be incomprehensible to people unfamiliar with the topic under discussion. Some people also use the term pejoratively, to describe gibberish or language so confusing that it’s impossible to understand.
When slang is used as a pejorative, it is usually intended to criticize someone who appears to be talking nonsense or to indicate that someone is having trouble following a conversation. The word was actually originally used in this sense, borrowed from an Old French word meaning “the chirping of birds.” This use of “slang” dates back to the 1300s, and by the 1600s, people were also using the word to refer to complex technical conversations.
Many industries are heavily characterized by jargon, including engineering, physics, and computer science. Specialists in these fields pick up the technical jargon as they train and often discuss issues that people outside their field may not understand. Their speech can be littered with references to unfamiliar devices and concepts outside the field, making it almost seem like a foreign language. This type of slang isn’t necessarily meant to cut people off or make people feel stupid, although it often does.
Hobbyists and enthusiasts also speak the lingo. In this case the jargon usually refers to concepts that are of little interest to those who do not follow the sport or hobby activity under discussion. Sports enthusiasts, for example, may be able to spit out stats and facts about their sport, while a model maker may talk at length about various types of epoxy. For people who aren’t into the topic, these kinds of conversations can get very boring very quickly.
Often, jargon is unavoidable, reflecting an intense level of interest or education in a particular subject. In other cases, people may use slang to appear more familiar with something than they actually are, or to appear more impressive. This use of slang is often frowned upon, because some people see it as a deliberate attempt to show off.
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