Jargon

Jargon is a word or expression from the speech of a certain social, professional or age group, used instead of the common name and having a limited distribution defined by group membership. Jargon arises in milieus united by a common activity or interests (pupils', students', professional, criminal) and fulfils the function of the linguistic recognition of "one's own." In literature jargon words individualise a personage's speech, faithfully reproduce a social milieu and the atmosphere of a certain circle, lend the narrative convincingness. The introduction of jargon demands artistic tact and measure. Jargon borders on slang and argot and is studied by sociolinguistics and stylistics in the aspect of the social differentiation of language and its interaction with the literary norm.