ABSTRACT
My advice that you should use ‘plain’ language wherever possible is not a condemnation of specialist vocabulary or ‘jargon’. Jargon is often attacked wildly as being pompous and unnecessary language, used deliberately to exclude laymen from understanding what is going on between specialists. Of course, if jargon is used deliberately to exclude anyone from understanding what is being said, it is indefensible. But jargon terms-special words or special turns of phrase-are not coined in order to mystify. They are created to convey between fellow-specialists precise meanings that could be expressed otherwise only at much greater length. In specialist contexts, they are the quickest and most efficient means of communication, and are wholly acceptable.
