Mastering Occupation Jargon: Boost Your Vocabulary for Better Compositions and PSLE Oral Success

Hello again, everyone! I am Ms Sharifah and today, I am starting on my Jargon Series which will boost your vocabulary for better Compositions and PSLE Oral Success!

Jargon refers to unique words and phrases used by distinct groups of people or professions. This means that there are certain words which we may rarely use in our daily interactions with friends or family but may be used often by a particular group of people instead. Perhaps their work requires them to know and utilise those words. For example, ‘palliative’ is a common term used in the medical field but not in the mathematical field.

How does learning about jargon help?

Knowing such special vocabulary can actually be beneficial for you. They will come in handy when you need to understand a passage that focuses on a particular topic (for instance being familiar with terms like ‘mission control’ and ‘space shuttle’ may help you understand a passage on space travel easier) as well as allowing you to use more precise and accurate vocabulary in your compositions (imagine using words like ‘prescription’, ‘diagnosis’ and ‘medical records’ when writing about a character who is hospitalised). While giving a response for the Stimulus-based Conversation during the oral paper, being able to use terms that are specific and relevant to the topic will enable you to communicate your ideas clearly and effectively. Besides, it never hurts to power up your overall vocabulary!

Common terms related to occupation

In this first post of the series, we are going to take a look at jargon related to occupations. Below are certain terms which are always used in this sector. You might have heard your parents use them too!

Have you come across any of the terms above? Can you name others that are not in the list?

How to apply occupation-related jargon in your compositions

You may be wondering how you can put to good use the special vocabulary that you have learnt or encountered. Let me now demonstrate how we can apply our knowledge of jargon specifically in our compositions.

Below is an example of a storyline that may require such knowledge:

Composition Topic: Overcoming Fear

1. Your main character was waiting to be interviewed. She was anxious as she did not have enough experience.
2. The interview with the hiring manager began. Your character fought to remain calm and confident.
3. During the interview, the hiring manager asked a difficult question. Your main character remembered her friend’s advice. Her friend was working in the Human Resources Department and thus had given her some tips prior to the interview. Using the advice she had received, your main character managed to answer the question and eventually the hiring manager was impressed with your main character when she described her achievements in her previous job and shared her work ethics.
4. The hiring manager offered your main character a full-time position. They discussed the terms of employment. The hiring manager also assured that the reporting officer will show your main character the ropes.
5. Your main character left the office building feeling relieved and exhilarated as she had finally been offered a job.

There are many other story lines where you can use occupation-related jargon. Some examples can be found below:

1. Your main character needed to rush to a party but he/she was working overtime thus failing to make it and upsetting the host.
2. Your main character, an indolent worker who put in minimal effort at his job, decided to turn over a new leaf after he realised he might be dismissed if he did not change his attitude.
3. Your main character’s mother was on maternity leave and your main character learned how to be responsible and care for his/her mother when she was in pain.
4. Your main character was struggling to learn new skills during an internship but persevered to find solutions.

Ta-da! Now that you are equipped with occupation-related jargon, try applying them in your next composition. However, remember that moderation is key. While using such special vocabulary definitely has its merits, overusing or misusing it can actually obscure your writing and hinder your readers from comprehending your writing clearly. This happens when the terms you use are too technical or specific, making it hard for readers without knowledge of the field to understand what you are writing. For instance, when writing about how your main character is suffering from an illness like cancer, it is not necessary to refer it by its medical name ‘carcinoma’, as it may leave your readers scratching their heads. Sometimes, simplicity is the way to go!

We shall be looking at more jargon in our next Jargon Series. Stay tuned and discover more! If you have any special vocabulary that you would like us to cover, share it in the comments. Boost your vocabulary for better compositions and PSLE oral success!