Jargon Busters

BBC Learning English
6 Minute English
Jargon¹ Busters

Yvonne: Hello, this is '6 minute English' - I'm Yvonne Archer…
William: …And I'm William Kremer. Hello!
Yvonne: Thanks for joining me, William! Now today, we're going to do a bit of glossing²,
play in few inserts and run a few ideas past you…. Anything to say to that
William?
William: Well - why were you using so much jargon, Yvonne?
Yvonne: Ahh – that's because that's the topic of today's programme! So you'd better
explain what it is for us.
William: Okay - 'jargon' is a noun that we for specific （具体）groups of words and expressions.
They're only used by people in special or technical （技术）situations because they are
the only people who really understand.
Yvonne: So, for example, 'glossing'…
William: Yes – 'glossing' basically means 'explaining'. So really the only people who
what glossing means are people like you and me, people who teach English
over the radio. So 'glossing' is an example of 'jargon'.
Yvonne: Excellent! Now before we hear more about 'jargon', I've got a question for you
William. Are you ready?
William: No – I'm not ready but I'm feeling brave!

Yvonne: That's what I like to hear! Which British Prime Minister became known as
'Jack³ the Jargon Killer⁴' because he wanted officials to stop using jargon? Was
it
a) Tony Blair
b) Winston Churchill or
c) Robert Peel
William: I don't know the answer to that question but I'm going to go for B – Winston
Churchill because everybody knows that Winston Churchill loved the English
language and he was a very great speaker so maybe he didn't like jargon.
Yvonne: Good answer, but we'll find out at the programme whether you're right or
wrong. Okay, recently officials were asked to stop using all the jargon that was
written on a list. It contained one hundred different words and expressions – all
jargon that people didn't understand unless they worked with government
officials, for example.
William: Now that sounds like an interesting list. I wonder whether I would understand
any of the jargon on it?
Yvonne: You might, you'll have a chance to find out - however, I need you to explain
some of the language we'll come across in that report today, William. First,
what does 'flagged up' mean?
William: If you 'flag something up', you really want to draw attention to it, you want
people to notice it, so you 'flag it up' – it's a phrasal verb.
Yvonne: And in England, what are 'councils'?
William: 'Councils' are a form of local government - so 'councillors' are local politicians
who people vote for. And elected councillors make decisions about things like
new local buildings and roads.

Yvonne: Lovely. Now Paul Ross and Joanne Good from BBC London's Breakfast Show
looked at three pieces of jargon which they found on that list I mentioned. But
do they understand any of the jargon? Try to find out…
PAUL ROSS
What do these phrases mean to you: 'stakeholder engagement'? No, me neither (no). 'A multiagency
approach'? Sort of. And 'a civic⁵ amenity⁶ site'? The chances are not much – which is
why they've all been flagged up as some of the worst examples of jargon used by councils （理事会）and
public bodies…
Yvonne: William, did they understand any of the jargon?
William: Well, no – Paul said 'sort of' which means he had an idea what it meant, but he
wasn't sure.
Yvonne: And what about you William – do you know what 'a civic amenity site' is, for
example?
William: Err⁷ – not really but I'm guessing it's a really useful place that's used by citizens.
Yvonne: And when you put it like that, it sounds absolutely lovely – but 'a civic amenity
site' is jargon so it's confusing because it could be a wonderful community
centre or a smelly rubbish tip. But are there times when jargon is useful? What
do you think, William?
William: Yes, I think if you don't want other people to understand what you're saying –
but then that's not very nice because it could mean that they don't get really
important information. For example, people can't complain about the building
of a new civic amenity site if they don't know whether it's a good or a bad
thing.
Yvonne: True – and that's why I don't like jargon. But does Joanne agree with me?

JOANNE GOOD
In the end, we embrace it, don't we? I mean, jargon is the vernacular⁸（白话）, isn't it? And I love being
in the know. I mean, I've been loving this morning's calls because people introduce you into
their shorthand for their workplace…
Yvonne: So Jo believes that after a while, most of us 'embrace' jargon – we get used it,
we begin to like it and we even start using it. But does she actually like it?
William: Yes, she does. She says that she loves jargon because it puts her 'in the know' –
she feels part of a special group of people who understand and use it.
Yvonne: That's right and she even calls jargon 'the vernacular'. But what does she mean
by that, William?
William: 'Vernacular' - she means that it's almost slang – very informal language that's
only used by people who do a particular type of work.
Yvonne: Okay, now without using informal language, William, I need the answer to
today's question! Which British Prime minister became known as 'Jack the
Jargon Killer' because he tried to stop officials using jargon?
William: I said maybe Winston Churchill.
Yvonne: And - you were absolutely… right!
William: Yeah!
Yvonne: Yes! He didn't like things like 'the receipt of your communication is hereby
acknowledged with thanks' - which means?

William: Thanks for your letter!
Yvonne: Easier! But that's all we've got time for today o n"6 Minute English" from BBC
Learning English…
W/Y: Goodbye!（本文由在线英语听力室整理编辑）

1 jargon   

n.术语，行话

参考例句：

• They will not hear critics with their horrible jargon.他们不愿意听到评论家们那些可怕的行话。
• It is important not to be overawed by the mathematical jargon.要紧的是不要被数学的术语所吓倒.

2 glossing   

v.注解( gloss的现在分词 )；掩饰（错误）；粉饰；把…搪塞过去

参考例句：

• The rights and wrongs in any controversy should be clarified without compromise or glossing over. 有争论的问题，要把是非弄明白，不要调和敷衍。 来自互联网

3 jack   

n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克

参考例句：

• I am looking for the headphone jack.我正在找寻头戴式耳机插孔。
• He lifted the car with a jack to change the flat tyre.他用千斤顶把车顶起来换下瘪轮胎。

4 killer   

n.杀人者，杀人犯，杀手，屠杀者

参考例句：

• Heart attacks have become Britain's No.1 killer disease.心脏病已成为英国的头号致命疾病。
• The bulk of the evidence points to him as her killer.大量证据证明是他杀死她的。

5 civic   

adj.城市的，都市的，市民的，公民的

参考例句：

• I feel it is my civic duty to vote.我认为投票选举是我作为公民的义务。
• The civic leaders helped to forward the project.市政府领导者协助促进工程的进展。

6 amenity   

n.pl.生活福利设施，文娱康乐场所；（不可数）愉快，适意

参考例句：

• The amenity of his manners won him many friends.他和悦的态度替他赢得很多朋友。
• Teachers' good amenity and culture have important educational value.教师良好的礼仪修养具有重要的教育价值。

7 err   

vi.犯错误，出差错

参考例句：

• He did not err by a hair's breadth in his calculation.他的计算结果一丝不差。
• The arrows err not from their aim.箭无虚发。

8 vernacular   

adj.地方的，用地方语写成的；n.白话；行话；本国语；动植物的俗名

参考例句：

• The house is built in a vernacular style.这房子按当地的风格建筑。
• The traditional Chinese vernacular architecture is an epitome of Chinese traditional culture.中国传统民居建筑可谓中国传统文化的缩影。