Transcript Helsingin Yliopisto

General language and special language
 General language: used in everyday
situations by all users of the language
 Special language: a limited subset of the
whole of a language used for special
purposes usually by specialists
 Typical examples: legal language, technical
jargon, language used by specialists in the
medical field
 General language and special language both
similar to and different from each other
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20.7.2015
 Most of the vocabulary is the same for general
and special language
 Typical differences: terms in a special field
(sometimes taken from general language),
sentence structure, textual structure
 Special language expressions often more
precise in meaning than general language
items
 Special language often developed intentionally
whereas general language develops more
freely
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20.7.2015
 Special language texts often difficult to
understand to outsiders
 There is less redundancy (backup
information) in special language than in
general language
 It is typically assumed that special language
users are familiar with the subject matter of
the text
 In general language texts there are often
introductory passages which make the reader
familiar with the subject matter
www.helsinki.fi/yliopisto
20.7.2015