Sometimes we find ourselves in a society of people where we often hear unfamiliar and complex words. Not understanding their meaning, we feel a little out of place when these words refer directly to us. Words characterizing specialized processes and phenomena from any particular branch of knowledge are professional vocabulary.
Definition of professional vocabulary
This type of vocabulary is special words or turns of speech, expressions that are actively used in any field of human activity. These words are a little isolated, since they are not used by a large mass of the country's population, only by a small part of it that has received a specific education. Words of professional vocabulary are used to describe or explain production processes and phenomena, the tools of a particular profession, raw materials, the end result of labor and the rest.
The place of this type of vocabulary in the language system used by a particular nation
There are several important questions regarding various aspects of professionalism that linguists are still studying. One of them: "What is the role and place of professionalvocabulary in the national language system?"
Many argue that the use of professional vocabulary is appropriate only within a certain speci alty, so it cannot be called nationwide. Since the formation of the language of speci alties in most cases occurs artificially, according to its criteria, it does not fit the characteristics of common vocabulary. Its main feature is that such vocabulary is formed in the course of natural communication between people. In addition, the formation and formation of a national language can take a fairly long period, which cannot be said about professional lexical units. To date, linguists and linguists agree that professional 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 speci alty differ from each other. These two concepts are distinguished on the basis of their historical development. Terminology arose relatively recently, the language of modern technology and science refers to this concept. Professional vocabulary, however, reached its peak during the time of handicraft production.
Also, the concepts differ in terms of their official use. Terminology is used in scientific publications, reports, conferences, specialized institutions. In other words, it is the official languagespecific science. The vocabulary of professions is used "semi-officially", that is, not only in special articles or scientific papers. Specialists of a certain profession can use it in the course of work and understand each other, while it will be difficult for an uninitiated person to learn what they are saying. Professional vocabulary, examples of which we will consider below, has some opposition to terminology.
- The presence of emotional coloring of speech and imagery - the lack of expression and emotionality, as well as imagery of terms.
- Special vocabulary is limited to colloquial style - terms are independent of normal communication style.
- Some range of deviation from the norm of professional communication - a clear correspondence to the norms of the professional language.
Based on the above characteristics of terms and professional vocabulary, many experts tend 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 unit, motherboard - motherboard and others).
Varieties of words in professional vocabulary
Professional vocabulary consists of several groups of words:
- professionalism;
- technicisms;
- professional jargon.
Professionalisms are lexical units that do not have a strictly scientific character. They are considered "semi-official" and are needed to denote any concept or process in production,inventory 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 circle of people. They are highly specialized, that is, it will not be possible to communicate with a person who is not initiated into a certain profession.
Professional slang words are characterized by reduced expressive coloring. Sometimes these concepts are completely illogical, and only an expert in a particular field can comprehend them.
When is professional vocabulary used in literary language?
Varieties of a special language can often be used in literary publications, oral and written speech. Sometimes professionalisms, technicalisms and professional jargon can replace terms in a poorly developed language of a particular science.
But there is a danger of the widespread use of professionalisms in periodicals - it is difficult for a non-specialist to distinguish concepts that are close in meaning, so many may make mistakes in the processes, materials and products of a particular production. Excessive saturation of the text with professionalism prevents it from being perceived correctly, meaning and style are lost for the reader.
Professional slang words are very rarely used in any publications. In scientific publications they do not exist at all, but in fiction they may appear as a characterological means. This species does not acquire normativecharacter.
How are professionalisms formed in this type of vocabulary?
Terms, unlike professional vocabulary, are formed in three ways:
- Matching - take suffixes, roots or prefixes of Latin, Greek words and add the necessary Russian words to them. For example, "monoblock" - "mono" ("one, single") device.
- Rethinking - a word known to many (sometimes implying a different meaning) adjusts 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 abbreviated words from long definitions of concepts. Just like terms, professionalisms can be formed through comparison, rethinking, borrowing. But at the same time, stylistic reduction, emotionality or expressiveness will be observed (a woodpecker is a drill hammer, a piece of iron is a metal structure).
Examples of professionalism
Borrowing and rethinking are the main ways in which professional vocabulary is formed. Examples of a special language by type will be considered below.
Professionalisms: a montage - a scrap montage, a break - a group that has gone ahead, a drag - an uphill climb, a basement - an article located at the bottom of the newspaper.
Technicisms: an inch - a board one inch thick.
Professional slangwords: "did you smoke?" - "understood?", noodles - two-wire wire.
When is special vocabulary inappropriate?
The use of professionalisms is not always stylistically justified. Since they have a colloquial coloring, their use in book styles is inappropriate. Professional slang words in literature should not be used at all. This is an informal communication on the topic of the features of the processes of a particular science, therefore they are used only in colloquial speech.
