Re: Jargon list?

[arroxaneullman -at- aol -dot- com]

 I did something similar when I first started working for the company I'm at. The company is in a specialty field (Television Broadcast Automation) and uses a lot of jargon. Over the years, as technology has changed, some terms have lingered. Many of these are used as synonyms when they should use a more modern term. 
 
 For instance, the term "log" refers to the scheduled list of programs and commercials to play. They use "schedule" and "playlist" as synonyms of "log", but they also use "log" to refer to the log the computer keeps!
 
 Anyway, I made a list of these terms and have slowly been standardizing the usage--at least in documentation. There is no way to get someone who's been at a TV station for 30 years to understand why he can't say "log" or "schedule" when it's really a "playlist". But at least he's not reading the ambiguous term in my documentation.
 
 It's been a complete uphill battle. Some days I'm not sure if I'm ahead or losing ground.
 
 :)
 Arroxane
 
 PS--I've got a degree from Excelsior College LOL www.excelsior.edu
  
 -----Original Message-----
 From: cloy -dot- tobola -at- ndsu -dot- edu
 To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
 Sent: Wed, 21 Feb 2007 5:14 PM
 Subject: Jargon list?
 
  I'm new to the group, so I apologize if this is a newbie question.... 
 
 I'm working on a list of terms to avoid (or at least explain) when communicating with a non-technical audience. (Not so much for me, but I think it's helpful to provide information and resources to help other staff communicate as effectively as possible.) 
 
 I've started compiling my own -- client, versioning, "legacy systems," etc. -- but I'm hoping someone has already done this. 
 
 Is anyone aware of a similar list they'd be willing to share? 
 
 Excelsior! -Cloy 
  
 
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