Choosing The Right Words

Proper Communication is vital if you want to be understood clearly. The words you choose can make all of the difference. I’m not speaking of politically correct words, but rather words which avoid jargon and can be easily understood.

Definition: Jargon is like a type of shorthand between members of a particular group of people, often words that are meaningless outside of a certain context.

The turning world is no different. We have our own set of terms which are meaningless to newbies or outsiders. When you are trying to describe or explain how to do something, be aware of the words you use. Adjust your vocabulary to suit your audience. Here are some examples I hear often which easily confuse less seasoned turners: live center, dead center, MT2, scroll chuck, flute, bevel, end grain vs side grain, HHS, banjo, headstock, swing, shear scrape, captive rig, reverse chuck and a thousand more.

How do you avoid being misunderstood? What works for me is to use the proper term first then either state the common name or the descriptive name.

Example:

Move the banjo out of the way – the banjo is the device which holds the tool rest and locks to the bed of the lathe to help guide your tool. A shallow flute denotes a spindle gouge – the flute is the hollow part of the gouge, the groove down the middle of the round steel rod. A deeper flute or groove usually denotes a bowl gouge.Today we will make an endgrain vessel – that means the grain runs the same direction as a baseball bat, parallel to the lathe bed. If it were side grain, it would be perpendicular to the lathe bed. That is how most bowls are made.My lathe will swing 16”. That means I could turn a bowl up to 16” in diameter.

There can be a temptation to demonstrate one’s superiority by using jargon. All that does is serve to confuse and alienate other folks. The real power is in being able to express yourself clearly so you are understood by others. I hear this all the time on TV, from certain talking–heads and I even hear it from some religious leaders who try to demonstrate their spirituality through the use of Jargon.

Simple easily understood language is always more effective. A prime example of confusingly descriptive language is in the cult movie classic “Coneheads”; consuming mass quantities, charring some mammal flesh, maintain low tones, broken down rusted out sh@% bucket, standard three horsepower chlorophyll slicer. It is amusing to be sure, but less effective than simple easy to understand language. Of course, if you are a seasoned turner discussing advanced techniques with someone equally as experienced, it isn’t jargon to them.

If someone doesn’t understand the terms you use, you might as well be speaking Chinese or some forgotten ancient tongue for it is all just babble, because wherever you go, there you are.

Here is my inspiration for this message:

Job 11:3 NRSA

Should your babble put others to silence, and when you mock, shall no one shame you?

Deuteronomy 27:8 NIV

And you shall write very clearly all the words of this law on these stones you have set up.”

John 16:29 MSG

His disciples said, "Finally! You're giving it to us straight, in plain talk – no more figures of speech.