On Sun, 15 Oct 1995, Richard Karash wrote:
>
> As I see it, bringing back a Greek word, one that is not in modern English
> dictionaries, is still introducing a "new" word, creating "jargon."
I've been following this thing about Jargon, looking for a place to get a
word in. I think Rick's point is correct. "Metanoia" 2k years ago was
ordinary language, not a technical term.
There is just one way, I think, that jargon can be "innocent". Think of
Ron Mallis' story of the bikers, from a couple of weeks ago; this was
language evolving in a localized group environment, to reflect the
group's experience.
Most outbreaks of jargon are less innocent than that. I have observed
instances of almost wilful collusion among the members of a group, to lock
others out by using an essentially private vocabulary and refusing to
relate it to the wider world of common English.
The burden of justification always lies with the jargoneer. Many of
them, upon being challenged, are incapable of relating their jargon to
any concepts or experiences or common sense.
--
Regards
Jim Michmerhuizen jamzen@world.std.com
web residence at http://world.std.com/~jamzen/
...........................................................................
. . . . There are far *fewer* things in heaven and earth, Horatio, . . . .
. . . . . than are dreamt of in your philosophy... . . | _ .