DEFINING TERMS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78-03362A002000030003-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 2, 2001
• Sequence Number: 3
• Content Type: SUMMARY

Approved For ReleastO01/08/08 : CIA-RDP78-03362AO0200,Q 0003-1
DEFINING TERMS
It i.s easy for the professional roan, particularly one in government
service? to slip into a bad habit--the use of technical or professional
jargon. A management engineer, for example, may be understood perfectly
by other management engineers, but his talk of staff and line, motion
study, and work flow charts may be misunderstood, or what is more dangerous,
only 'calf-understood by the man in the office three doors down the corridor.
Nor is that all of the difficulty. If some hardy soul dares ask the
specialist to define his terms, the definition is likely to be as confusing
an-m nearly as unintelligible as the word defined.' How, then, can we improve
air techniques for making our professional jargon understandable to the
layman?
"'Shat does this word mean?" To answer such a question most of us take
the easy way out--we turn to the dictionary and read out of it a cold
technical definition which, like as not, leaves confusion worse confounded
but soothes our vanity and gives us the self-righteous feeling that we have
done all that could be done under the. circumstances. Stuff and nonsensea
At best a dictionary definition is but a nucleus-which must be developed,
expanded, and supplemented until we have really answered the questions "What
does it mean?" Use the dictionary if you masts but do not forget that you
have not done the best possible job of definition if you stop with "Webster
says. .a"
There are at least six special methods of definition that you can use
to supplement the dictionary:
la Quote an authority, In a sense the dictionary definition is
definition by 'autTn rr~bit an explanation of a word or term as given by
some recognized specialist in the particular field is helpful both in making
clear the real meaning and in making that meaning impressive to. the hearer.
20 Explain the origin of the word. For example, sabotage might be
explains a oinming e French word meaning "wooden shoe," and one of
its early meanings was to throw a wooden shoe into machinery to wreck it. ILLEGIB
3. Give an exams. Take the idea w d it
down to specac case. An example in
science.
!t. Use comparison and contrast. A vivid and effective method of
definition Ts show how the Mi~-defined resembles a thing with which
we are already familiar. Or throw your notion of a term into sharp contrast
with another term.
5? Try negation. To tell what a thing is not may serve to give a
clearer un ere n ng of it.
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6. Use visual aids. Do not overlook the opportunity to use pictures,
charts, annrdiagrams or when possible, the object itself. In the dictionary
a halberd is defined as "a kind of old-time long=handled weapon." For-
tunately, there is a picture alongside.
Suggestions:
Introduction=not over 30=40 seconds. Open with a sentence or two that
will snap us o attention.
Discussion=not over three minutes. Define your term at least three
times,, each time using one of the special methods of definition.
Conclusion--hot over 20 seconds. Little more than a sentence or two
to smooup Fie end of the speech.
But donut tell us "Webster saysooo1"
Approved For Release 2001/08/08 : CIA-RDP78-03362AO02000030003-1