Gobbledygook

Gobbledygook is a noun describing language that is meaningless, hard to understand, or needlessly elaborate. It typically refers to prose that is inflated, obscure, and filled with jargon, clichés, or bureaucratic phrases rather than clear information. The term is often applied to government, legal, or corporate writing, but can describe any communication that obscures meaning rather than clarifies it.

Origins of the term date to the United States in the 1940s and it was popularized by politician Maury Maverick in 1944, who used gobbledygook to lampoon unreadable bureaucratic prose. The spelling gobbledygook is the common form; gobbledegook is a variant. The term evokes the noisy, chaotic sound of a turkey and the idea of language that confuses rather than communicates.

Characteristics commonly associated with gobbledygook include long sentences, excessive nominalizations, and heavy use of jargon, acronyms, and passive voice. It often features padding, redundancies, and euphemisms that mask straightforward meaning. While some obscurity may arise from technical necessity, gobbledygook frequently frustrates readers and impedes understanding rather than aiding it.

Impact and response: Critics view gobbledygook as a barrier to transparency in public life and business. In response, plain language movements advocate clear, direct writing and document design that helps audiences comprehend content. Practices include style guides, readability measures, audience testing, and editing techniques that favor concrete terms and active voice.