Occupation article

Write an opinionated article about the use of work language in other contexts.
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Why our work should stay in the office
With our work troubles already hounding us enough, coming home to criticize and moan about our jobs, it seems that the language we use at work is also following us wherever we go, which, by all means, is not good.


When out and about, relaxing, work should be the last thing on people's minds and especially what comes out of their mouths. Despite this, I constantly hear people, unfortunately myself included, using jargon that can be understood, but should by all means be kept in the workplace. This exclusive lexis should be kept for people in our discourse communities like work colleagues who understand what is being said and why. According to theorist Goffman, your 'face needs', what people think about you due to how you come across in conversation, may be flouted and threatened due to people not knowing what you are going on about, or generally think you are trying to seem like a 'know it all', using specialist language that really doesn't suit the conversation - be it intentional or not. In addition to this, people may feel they are being overpowered in a conversation, due to such specialist terms being used that they are unable to contribute to a conversation, causing an unequal encounter.


In contrast to the thought that people believe that learning from work related language can help broaden your knowledge, it is clearly not the same for many aspects of work - should nurses or social workers be confusing young children with language of such complexity? Or teachers at home using their instrumental power on their children (who may be already tired of school talk) the same as they would in a classroom? It clearly wouldn't benefit anyone.