Yes, I think these are all valid points. So my suggestion would indeed be to often provide a brief explanation and/âor a link, rather than to always do that. I do think Iâve sometimes seen people explain jargon unnecessarily in a way thatâs a bit awkward and presumptuous, and perhaps sometimes been that person myself.
In my articles for the EA Forum, I often include just links rather than explanations, as that gives readers the choice to get an explanation if they wish. And in person, I guess Iâd say that itâs worth:
entertaining both the hypothesis that using jargon without explanation would make someone feel confused/âexcluded, and the hypothesis that explaining jargon would make the person feel theyâre perceived as more of a ânewcomerâ than they really are
then trying to do whatever seems best based on the various clues and cues
with the options available including more than just âassume they know the jargonâ and âassume they donât and therefore do a full minute spiel on itâ; there are also options like giving a very brief explanation that feels natural, or asking if theyâve come across that term
One last thing Iâd say is that I think the fact jargon is used as a marker of belonging is also another reason to sometimes use jargon-free statements or explain the jargon, to avoid making people who donât know the jargon feel excluded. (I guess I intended that point to be implicit in saying that explanations and/âor hyperlinks of jargon âmay make [people] feel more welcomed and less disorientated or excludedâ.)
Yes, I think these are all valid points. So my suggestion would indeed be to often provide a brief explanation and/âor a link, rather than to always do that. I do think Iâve sometimes seen people explain jargon unnecessarily in a way thatâs a bit awkward and presumptuous, and perhaps sometimes been that person myself.
In my articles for the EA Forum, I often include just links rather than explanations, as that gives readers the choice to get an explanation if they wish. And in person, I guess Iâd say that itâs worth:
entertaining both the hypothesis that using jargon without explanation would make someone feel confused/âexcluded, and the hypothesis that explaining jargon would make the person feel theyâre perceived as more of a ânewcomerâ than they really are
then trying to do whatever seems best based on the various clues and cues
with the options available including more than just âassume they know the jargonâ and âassume they donât and therefore do a full minute spiel on itâ; there are also options like giving a very brief explanation that feels natural, or asking if theyâve come across that term
One last thing Iâd say is that I think the fact jargon is used as a marker of belonging is also another reason to sometimes use jargon-free statements or explain the jargon, to avoid making people who donât know the jargon feel excluded. (I guess I intended that point to be implicit in saying that explanations and/âor hyperlinks of jargon âmay make [people] feel more welcomed and less disorientated or excludedâ.)