Posted by Taylor Roberge
When I talk to my lab mates about my biology research, I often talk in a special code: “Malaclemys terrapin is a relatively small estuarine Emydid turtle that represents a possible keystone species. It also exhibits sexual dimorphism and TSD." But when I go home, and talk to my girlfriend, who is in the medical field, I code switch, or cut out the jargon, to make sure that she understands the importance of what I am doing and why I am late for supper again. Here’s a translation: "Diamondback terrapins are small turtles related to the common pond turtles you can get from the pet store. They live in salt marshes where fresh and salt water mix and are very important to the diversity of animals and plants in the marsh. Males and females are different in size and shape, and the sex of the animal is determined by egg incubation temperature and not the presence of a specific gene (e.g. X or Y in humans)." No matter who hears it, this explanation usually elicits sympathy for the turtles, and/or interest in my research, so I’m ahead either way.
One of the biggest differences between
scientific writing in the professional sense (e.g. journal articles, grant proposals), and
writing for the public is the avoidance of using scientific jargon. The Laura
Diaz-Martinez of ASCB states, “Scientific lexicon, which is different even
between physicists and biologists, is partly to blame for the divide that
exists between the many amazing discoveries scientists make and the few that
make it into the public sphere and get non-scientists excited about them too.” It is difficult for us to explain complex
ideas without using jargon, mostly because we get so comfortable using these
terms in every day speech. However, I’m sure everyone has had to explain what
they were working on to a family member that is not scientifically literate if
only to explain why you don’t have a “real” job yet and are still in
school.
When I talk to my lab mates about my biology research, I often talk in a special code: “Malaclemys terrapin is a relatively small estuarine Emydid turtle that represents a possible keystone species. It also exhibits sexual dimorphism and TSD." But when I go home, and talk to my girlfriend, who is in the medical field, I code switch, or cut out the jargon, to make sure that she understands the importance of what I am doing and why I am late for supper again. Here’s a translation: "Diamondback terrapins are small turtles related to the common pond turtles you can get from the pet store. They live in salt marshes where fresh and salt water mix and are very important to the diversity of animals and plants in the marsh. Males and females are different in size and shape, and the sex of the animal is determined by egg incubation temperature and not the presence of a specific gene (e.g. X or Y in humans)." No matter who hears it, this explanation usually elicits sympathy for the turtles, and/or interest in my research, so I’m ahead either way.
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Adapted from a painting by Pieter Bruegel the Elder at Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Pieter_Bruegel_the_Elder_-_The_Tower_of_Babel_(Vienna)_-_Google_Art_Project_-_edited.jpg
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Reducing the use of jargon, or defining it will keep the audience
engaged and reduce the chance that they will feel intimidated and stop reading.
Just remember, next time you are writing about your latest research in the
field of astrophysics to explain it like you were talking to your uncle (unless
your uncle happens to be Neil deGrasse Tyson). For more information about
avoiding jargon, check out the page on WritingInTheZone
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