Sjargong

Sjargong is a term used in discussions of language and sociolinguistics to refer to a type of in-group jargon that develops within a specific community. It is not a formally defined linguistic category, but rather a flexible concept describing how groups create and use specialized expressions to communicate efficiently and signal membership.

The etymology of sjargong is uncertain. In most sources it appears as a coined or nonce term rather than a widely standardized label. As a result, its precise boundaries are variable, and different communities may treat it as a playful nickname, a fictional example, or a practical description of their own jargon.

Characteristics commonly associated with sjargong include concise or coded terminology, metaphorical or domain-specific expressions, and frequent code-switching between registers. It often relies on shared context, inside jokes, and rapid reference to familiar concepts. The vocabulary may borrow from technical, gaming, or fan-cultural lexicons, and meanings can be opaque to outsiders, reinforcing group cohesion.

In practice, sjargong tends to arise in settings where rapid communication is valued and where participants have substantial shared knowledge. Examples include online communities, software development teams, gaming clans, and fan groups. Its functions include increasing communicative efficiency, signaling belonging, and shaping group identity through a distinctive linguistic style.

See also jargon, argot, cant, in-group language, linguistic pragmatics. Notes on study indicate that sjargong is more often discussed descriptively in sociolinguistic or cultural contexts and is not a standardized term in mainstream linguistics.