A Twittering of Birds: The Inscrutable World of Jargon
by It is not only the real world of computers that makes use of jargon. At the end of a detective movie, usually the villain is caught, the red herrings explained, and the hero and heroine united. But for many the mystery may just be beginning. As the credits roll, some strange terms may appear on the screen. What is a gaffer? A best boy? A key grip?
A Twittering of Birds: The Inscrutable World of Jargon
By Mr Ghaz, November 28, 2009
A Twittering of Birds: The Inscrutable World of Jargon
Originally a French word meaning “the twittering of birds,” jargon, in English, was applied to the codes used by criminals who did not want law-abiding citizens to know what they were saying.
Today jargon words are coined not to confuse outsiders but because the objects, jobs, or situations they describe may have no equivalents outside a particular profession.
Computer Language
In the fast growing computer industry, new words are born almost as fast as the machines come off the production line. Terms such as bit, byte, and nybble (half a byte) are now fairly common, but there are many less familiar ones.
Originally, homemade computers were nicknamed kludge, which may have been derived from klug – German for clever. Today some people use the word as a term of endearment for a computer, especially enthusiasts.
The opposite of kludge – a large, unfriendly piece of computer equipment – might be called a moby, probably for the dangerous white whale in Herman Melville’s novel Moby Dick.
Data assembled in such a computer might well be destroyed, or MUNG –ed (“mussed until no good”). It may be necessary to gronk, or free, a jammed computer. But an operator who tells you about his “flops” is not describing setbacks but “floating point operations per second,” a method of measuring the power of a supercomputer.
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Post Commentgiftarist
On November 28, 2009 at 6:59 am
Great article, enjoyed read and very interesting!
ken bultman
On November 28, 2009 at 7:24 am
I started to comprehend toward the end. The computer jargon is all Greek to me.
Christine Ramsay
On November 28, 2009 at 7:33 am
Wow! I didn’t know there was so much jargon around. I am so glad you have told me what yuppie stands for. I have often wondered. A great and interesting article.
Christine
AlmaG
On November 28, 2009 at 8:16 am
Great post! May be to those a little older those words would be so confusing
CHAN LEE PENG
On November 28, 2009 at 8:27 am
I learnt much from you, thanks
Louie Jerome
On November 28, 2009 at 8:31 am
Interesting read
abhishek40914
On November 28, 2009 at 9:37 am
nice article.
papaleng
On November 28, 2009 at 9:43 am
Great facts shared. A must read!!!
xoxo
On November 28, 2009 at 10:19 am
These are something new. Thanks.
My Facebook
On November 28, 2009 at 10:27 am
Well researched. Thanks
Phill Senters
On November 28, 2009 at 10:34 am
Great Article Mr G. Now I know what to call myself. I must belong to the last group, the droppies.
Ramalingam
On November 28, 2009 at 11:43 am
nice article
Guy Hogan
On November 28, 2009 at 1:36 pm
I wonder if there is a field of study for jargon or at least a college course someone could take to study jargon. It would be an interesting class.
Goodselfme
On November 28, 2009 at 2:50 pm
Tx for sharing your research.
Themax
On November 28, 2009 at 3:26 pm
really great post and amazing pics also very well researched Mr Ghaz,Thank
diamondpoet
On November 28, 2009 at 6:49 pm
Interesting article and amazing pics.
PR Mace
On November 28, 2009 at 9:14 pm
Interesting read but I’m not sure I understand it all.
Shirley Shuler
On November 28, 2009 at 10:31 pm
Excellent article, thanks for the share.
Starpisces
On November 28, 2009 at 10:35 pm
Hey Mr Ghaz, you really know so much, excellent!
Idazalee
On November 28, 2009 at 10:57 pm
Well Done Mr Ghaz..very educational and informative article. I liked it. thank you!
Mansor
On November 28, 2009 at 11:01 pm
Anther brilliant article!..I really enjoyed reading your article..thanks Mr Ghaz. very educational! excellent!!
Chris
On November 28, 2009 at 11:49 pm
wonderful post!..i loved reading this article..very interesting story my friend..well researched..thank you!
crownafroz
On November 29, 2009 at 2:23 am
very good and interesting article and amazing pics.
Unofre Pili
On November 29, 2009 at 4:52 am
Pretty informative and witty article, Mr Ghaz.
hollynoel001
On November 29, 2009 at 7:49 pm
words and their meanings use to be easy to understand what was being said but now they change everyday and i would hate the alien from outer space would has to decipher the languages!!! great article
Zappy
On November 30, 2009 at 12:32 am
Amazing!
Razie
On November 30, 2009 at 2:54 am
Wonderful! well-researched and very interesting read..well done Mr Ghaz!
NSMasry
On November 30, 2009 at 4:45 am
ceh!! wonderfull..
susan
On December 1, 2009 at 10:53 am
I’d never heard of many of these. One of my favorite computer-tech phrases is ID-ten-T error, or ID!0T error.
Judy Sheldon
On December 1, 2009 at 9:12 pm
Mr. Ghaz thanks for entertainingly educational and attractive piece.