We explain what technical language is, in what contexts it is used and its characteristics. Also, examples from various fields.
What is technical language?
It is known as technical language, technical jargon, technical vocabulary or technical terminology when own vocabulary shared by those engaged in a highly specialized profession, trade or activity, and that is usually dark or cryptic for the layman (not understood or inexperienced).
In other words, it is the specialized way of speaking typical of certain trades, characterized by its own vocabulary and difficult to understand if one does not first receive adequate training in the area. This kind of language is essential for communication in professional or technical environments, since it avoids wasting time thoroughly clarifying each concept, since all those involved handle a precise terminology.
Technical language is typical of professional groups, work settings, academic journals and publications, and other similar settings, from which the uninitiated are usually excluded. Which can be a challenge for the latter, of course, but also for translators who lack the grip of specialized language, since a glossary of terms or specialized dictionary is required in these cases.
Characteristics of technical language
Technical language is characterized by the following:
- Employ a own lexicon and particular, with very unusual words.
- Accommodates neologisms, technicalities and twists punctual that differ from the ordinary ones.
- It is accessible only to initiated people, that is, to those who receive a certain type of academic training, or have experience in the area.
- The technical language of a professionally and on the other they may be completely different.
- Usually compiled in dictionaries and glossaries, as it presents little individual variation and few changes over time.
Examples of technical language
Examples of technical language are:
- The vocabulary of doctors and dentists in which complete operations are referred to by a specialized term, such as scalectomy for “dental cleaning” or thrombocytopenia for “decreased blood platelets.”
- The neologisms of contemporary tech jargon, such as router, defragment, to reset, set, log in, etc.
- Philosophical terminology and from psychoanalytic schools, which uses hyphenated terms (such as “being-for-the-other”) or in a foreign language (such as dasein).