As technology advances, so does our ability to communicate with each other. With the creation and proliferation of new words, even new dialects, the world becomes a smaller place.
However, as new technologies are developed and spread, they also bring about new social groups that use these technologies in different ways.
For example, the way a farmer uses technology is significantly different from the way a steel worker or skateboarder uses it. As such, their unique jargon for things changes as well.
Techology-oriented slang is known as techspeak. Techspeak refers to all of the words and phrases that people who use specific technologies invent to describe things about those technologies or things they do with them. These can be either positive or negative terms.
This article will talk about some of the most common ones found in the agricultural industry, steel working industries, and skateboarding communities.
Farmers use specific terms for animals and plants
A large group of people who have their own special lexicon are farmers. People who work with animals and plants use specific names for them, their offspring, and the areas where they grow.
For example, a calf is the offspring of a cow, grass is the plant that cows eat, and hay is what cows eat when there is no grass.
This is so when they talk about their animals or plants, there is no confusion. For example, if a farmer said their cow had just given birth to a calf, then everyone would know what they were talking about.
The same goes for all of the different types of plants that farmers work with. If someone said they had some good quality hay, then you would know it was good due to the word they used to describe it.
This helps reinforce communication between farmers and others who may not be as familiar with farm terminology.
Steel workers use specific terms for materials
If you’re ever in the area where steelworkers work, you’ll hear them refer to their materials by color. For example, they call steel “silver,” aluminum “aluminum,” and ductwork “leak.”
This is because the colors of these materials are what make them recognizable. In the thick smoke and flames of a construction site, being able to identify your materials by color is a safety precaution.
Aside from this safety feature, naming materials by color helps workers communicate with each other more efficiently. If one says “I need some silver for this joint,” then everyone knows what material to bring him or her.
Also, some terms like “monkey bars” or “grinds” come from skateboarding culture. If you are in the area where many skateboarders live, then you will hear these terms being used frequently.
Skateboarders use specific terms for tricks
If you have ever watched a skateboarder perform tricks, then you have probably heard them mention the term nose grab. This is the name given to the first trick a beginner skater learns.
The nose grab is when the skater stands on the board with one foot and pushes off with the other foot, rotating around until they are facing away from the ledge or surface they are skating on.
Once they are facing away, they pull up their feet so that only one foot is touching the board and then they sit down on it. The name comes from how, in this position, they look like they are grabbing the nose of the skateboard.
This is a basic trick that any beginner skater learns.
Learn the language of your profession!
It’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day tasks of your job, but being a well-rounded professional means expanding your knowledge and expertise.
You’ll earn more confidence and respect from your colleagues if you demonstrate an understanding of their jobs and expertise in your own field.
Plus, the more you know about your field, the easier it will be to communicate with others who work in different fields. For example, if you’re a farmer and you encounter a emergency situation that requires the help of a steel worker or skateboarder, you’ll be able to explain what needs to happen to help resolve the issue.
The same goes for any other profession — knowing the language of other professionals will help you get through tough situations and earn your trust.
