POLITICAL JARGON

February 18, 2009 Blog

Definition of "jargon" (The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language)
1. Nonsensical, incoherent, or meaningless talk.
2. A hybrid language or dialect; a pidgin.
3. The specialized or technical language of a trade, profession, or similar group.
4. Speech or writing having unusual or pretentious vocabulary, convoluted phrasing, and vague meaning.

Thomas Carlyle wrote in "Past and Present" (1843), "Wholly a blessed time: when jargon might abate, and here and there some genuine speech begin."

During the presidential election campaign, I wrote a blog about the new meanings of good English words when uttered by certain politicians (3-8-08). I explained that some words, like the word "meaningful," have lost all meaning.

We all desire meaningful relationships with those we work and live with. Establishing them in a marriage is very simple. The husband puts the toilet seat down after use and the wife cooks her husband's favorite food even if he has high cholesterol.

Most politicians speak a jargon that is basically incomprehensible. Here are some of their favorite expressions and definitions:

Adequate ("take adequate measures") = means nothing

Timely ("we will address this issue in a timely fashion") = means nothing

Appropriate = means nothing as an adjective (as a verb it means billions)

Substantial = without substance

Relevant ("relevant to the matter at hand") = irrelevant

Significant  = insignificant

Measured = incapable of being measured

Far-reaching = far fetched

Change = same old rhetoric

It is possible that a few politicians are returning to the use of common English. In response to accusations about pork (political jargon for money) in the current stimulus package (political jargon for money), Senator Chuck Shumer of New York spoke without using political jargon. In plain English, he said, "The American people really don't care."

Our new President may also have decided to use plain English rather than political jargon. The $790 billion bill, previously called "stimulus package" (political jargon), was renamed "American Recovery and Investment Act". Before signing, the President said, "Today does mark the beginning of the end."

I hope that was just meaningless political jargon.