How You Can Avoid Speech Jargon

Jargon is rarely a pretty thing. And in public speaking it's distinctly ugly. Yet public speakers insist on using speech jargon at their conferences, trade fairs or even political speeches. We've considered some examples of the habit before. A Caroline Spelman speech spelled out hideous environmentalist jargon in 2012. And in Washington D.C. Jen Psaki was typically copious with her jargon when answering questions during press conferences.

Some have tried to change things (move the dial!). In 2019 Jacob Rees-Mogg tackled the use of jargon in Whitehall and was widely mocked for his efforts. That was a pity.

Because it appears that speech jargon is still alive and well, here in the UK and elsewhere.

But what is it about speech jargon that's a problem?

To answer, let's consider the scenario of a speaker using jargon at a conference. Implicit in their jargon is the suggestion that they are a member of a group that has foreknowledge of all the terms. And, as a member of this elite club, they show their membership with the unique language…understandable to only a few. Indeed they aim to impress with their jargon.

Because it's a language that excludes outsiders for whom it has no relevance. So that exclusion is a problem. It's a problem for audiences who can't understand a speech. And it's a problem for speakers who can't communicate effectively with their audience.

When speakers fail to explain their jargon they mistakenly believe that their audience comprises fully-signed up members of their club. Yet they clearly forget how their speeches are beamed around the world and very often are translated. So the room for confusion is vast. It's ugly.

Avoid Speech Jargon and Spell Out an Abbreviation

Of course, it's not hard to spell out an abbreviation or an acronym. Last month the Minister for Defence Procurement, James Cartlidge MP, did just that with his speech at the International Military Helicopter conference.

So later, you can hear more about the process and other procurement programmes from Commodore Woodard, our SRO, senior responsible owner, for delivering the New Medium Helicopter programme.

Good work. However, the Minister did go off track with a combination of jargon and gobbledygook that only a helicopter manufacturer might know.

Another important feature of our Medium Helicopter programme will be our ability to spirally develop these platforms - we will order largely off the shelf models with open system architecture that we can spiral with enhanced capabilities to meet different operational needs or to accommodate new innovations, meaning our new medium helicopter will be adaptable and future proof.

Even More Speech Jargon from the Minister

The concept of spiral development sounds fun, but we never did it at Redland, Cellnet or Inmarsat, so I'm none the wiser. However the mention of off the shelf models and open system architecture makes me think of jargon bingo.

The Minister's conclusion was of course pure jargon poetry. Something to be marveled at when his government is just a note in history.

Procurement must be smart, agile, and responsive, ready to pivot and adapt to the changing nature of threats and to accommodate war-winning innovations. That’s why our next generation medium lift helicopter will deliver a Swiss Army Knife platform, future proofed and procured in a way to give the UK Armed Forces and our defence sector maximum clout and flexibility, a 21st century platform delivering on our modernisation agenda that can meet multiple needs now, and be easily adapted in the future, procured through a process that incentivises investment in the UK, which will deliver high value jobs, high value exports and help make us more secure. I look forward to your questions.

Wonderful jargon! Of course, we might never know which of the Ministry's 60,000 civil servants wrote this guff. But let's note that they're not alone. There's thousands of 'em, Sir.

When you're ready to give a speech without jargon, you'll find more than 100 top tips for speakers here on this site. And with extra videos and podcasts there's something for every opportunity. And when you're ready to push the envelope and embark on a new journey (oops, very sorry!), then you're always welcome to enroll on our online public speaking course. Or, alternatively please don't hesitate to get in touch about a course for you and your colleagues.