Word: jargoning
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...last week, in the cryptic jargon of commodity dealers, began the world's first public trading in mercury futures -contracts calling for delivery in a future month of the slippery metal known to mystified ancients, beloved of medieval alchemists, prized by modern industry for everything from thermometers to detonating caps. By his call of 90, Coyne had offered to pay $490 per flask for ten flasks of mercury* to be delivered the month after next. Marcus grabbed at the bid because the price surprised him. "We thought it would open at $480 to $485," he explained...
...weeds." Enemies of Mao who do not quite qualify as intellectuals are labeled "ghosts and monsters" who follow the "black line." The difficulty of distinguishing friendly from unfriendly posters, especially when nearly all invoke the blessing of Mao for their point of view, has led to a special sub-jargon. It warns against those "leftist in name, rightist in reality" who "wave the red flag to oppose the red flag." It also warns against "those who listen superficially" to the words of Mao but, in fact, are working against him. "The red ocean is a big plot" is an attack...
...There are many valid criticisms that may be made of the present-day tendency toward use of jargon, especially in the social sciences. Unfortunately, most of the sociological terms you criticize represent valuable and insightful conceptualizations...
...term is simply a confusing synonym for a common idea, then it is jargon. However, few if any of the words you attack meet this definition. Instead, you seem to be attacking concepts that you cannot understand without exerting some effort-a common anti-intellectual tactic...
...Jargon is the lubricant of scholarly communication. Its purpose is not to bamboozle the layman or screen academic incompetence behind verbiage, but to increase the precision of language and speed the exchange of ideas. The cost of using jargon-enduring snippy essays like yours -is considerably less than the benefits...