Professional vocabulary: education and use

Sometimes we get into a society of people, where we hear often unfamiliar and complex words. Not understanding their meaning, we feel a little out of place when these words refer directly to us. Words that characterize specialized processes and phenomena from any particular branch of knowledge are vocabulary.

Definition of professional vocabulary

This kind of vocabulary - these are special words or phrases of speech, expressions that are actively used in any sphere of human activity . These words are a bit isolated, since they are not used by a large mass of the population of the country, only its small part, which received a specific education. The words of professional vocabulary are used to describe or explain production processes and phenomena, tools of a particular profession, raw materials, the end result of labor and the rest.

The place of this kind of vocabulary in the language system used by a particular nation

There are several important questions concerning various aspects of professionalism that linguists are still studying. One of them: "What is the role and place of vocabulary in the system of the national language?"

Many argue that the use of professional vocabulary is appropriate only within a certain specialty, so it can not be called national. Since the formation of the language of specialties in most cases occurs artificially, it does not fit the characteristics of the commonly used vocabulary according to its criteria. Its main feature is that such vocabulary is formed in the course of natural communication of people. In addition, the formation and formation of a national language can take a fairly long period, which can not be said about professional lexical units. To date, linguists and linguists agree that vocabulary is not a literary language, but it has its own structure and characteristics.

The difference between professional vocabulary and terminology

Not all ordinary people know that the terminology and language of the specialty are different from each other. These two concepts are delineated on the basis of their historical development. Terminology arose relatively recently, refers to this notion of the language of modern technology and science. Professional vocabulary of the peak of its development reached in times of handicraft production.

Also, the concepts differ from the point of view of their official use. Terminology is used in scientific publications, reports, conferences, specialized institutions. In other words, it is the official language of a particular science. The vocabulary of professions is used "semi-officially," that is, not only in special articles or scientific works. Specialists of a certain profession can use it in the course of work and understand each other, whereas it is difficult for an uninitiated person to learn what they are saying. Professional vocabulary, examples of which we will consider below, has some opposition to the terminology.

1. The presence of emotional coloring of speech and imagery - the lack of expression and emotionality, as well as imagery of terms.
2. Special vocabulary is limited to conversational style - terms do not depend on the usual style of communication.
3. Some range of deviation from the standard of professional communication - a clear correspondence to the norms of the professional language.

Based on the listed characteristics of terms and professional vocabulary, many experts are inclined to the theory that the latter refers to professional vernacular. The difference in these concepts can be determined by comparing them with each other (steering wheel - steering wheel, system unit - system, motherboard - motherboard and others).

Varieties of words in professional vocabulary

Professional vocabulary consists of several groups of words:

• Professionalism;
• Technical qualifications;
• Professional slang words.

Professionalism refers to lexical units that are not strictly scientific in nature. They are considered "semi-official" and are needed to refer to any concept or process in production, equipment and equipment, material, raw materials and so on.

Technicisms are words of professional vocabulary that are used in the field of technology and are used only by a limited number of people. They are highly specialized, that is, to communicate with a person who is not initiated into a certain profession, with their help will not work.

Professional-slang words are characterized by a lower expressive coloration. Sometimes these concepts are absolutely not logical, and they can be understood only by a specialist in a particular field.

In what cases is vocabulary used in literary language?

Species of a special language can often be used in literary publications, oral and written speech. Sometimes professionalism, technicism and professional jargon can replace terms in the poorly developed language of a particular science.

But there is a danger of widespread use of professionalism in periodicals - it is difficult for a layman to distinguish concepts of similar meaning, so many can make mistakes in the processes, materials and products of a particular production. Excessive saturation of the text with professionalism prevents it from correctly perceiving, the sense and style for the reader is lost.

Professional-slang words are very rarely used in any publications. In scientific publications there are none at all, and in fiction they can appear as a characterological tool. This species does not acquire a regulatory character.

How are professionalisms formed in this form of vocabulary?

Terms, in contrast to professional vocabulary, are formed in three ways:

• Comparison - take the suffixes, roots or prefixes of Latin, Greek words and add to them the necessary Russian words. For example, "monoblock" - "mono" ("one, single") device.
• Rethinking - a word known to many (sometimes implying a different meaning) is adjusted to a certain process and is fixed in terminology.
• Borrowing - words from other languages are used to define our concepts.

The formation of professional vocabulary occurs through the simplification of terms, they can be short words from long definitions of concepts. As well as terms, professionalisms can be formed by means of comparison, rethinking, borrowing. But at the same time there will be a stylistic decrease, emotionality or expressiveness (woodpecker - a drill hammer, metalware - metalware).

Examples of professionalism

Borrowing and rethinking are the main ways in which vocabulary is formed. Examples of a special language by types are discussed below.

Professionalism: installation - scrap erection, separation - group, left forward, draft - uphill, basement - article located at the bottom of the newspaper.

Technicisms: inch - one inch thick board.

Professionally slang words: "did you eat?" - "I understand?", Noodles - wire two-wire.

When is the special vocabulary inappropriate?

The use of professionalism is not always stylistically justified. Since they have a colloquial coloring, in book styles their use is inappropriate. Professional-slang words in literature should not be used at all. This is an informal communication on the specific features of the processes of a particular science, so they are used only in colloquial speech.