Military terminology refers to the terminology and language of military organizations, personnel, and military doctrine. Much like other forms of corporate jargon, military terminology is distinguishable from colloquial language by its use of new or repurposed words and phrases typically only understandable by current and former members of the military or associated companies and agencies.
Common understanding
The operational pressure for uniform understanding has developed since the early 20th century with the importance of
Joint warfare between different services (army, navy, air force) of the same country. International alliances and operations, including
peacekeeping,
[Colonel Andrei Demurenko and Professor Alexander Nikitin, Basic Terminology and Concepts in International Peacekeeping Operations: An Analytical Review (translated Robert R. Love) in Low Intensity Conflict & Law Enforcement,
Volume 6, Summer 1997, Frank Cass, London accessed at Foreign Military Studies Office, Fort Leavenworth, US [1] July 28, 2006] have added additional complexity. For example, the
NATO alliance now maintains a large
dictionary[ DOD Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms accessed on Defense Technical Information Center (DTIC), US website, July 28, 2006] of common terms for use by member countries. Development work is also taking place
[Robert Bell, Ballistic Missile Threats:A NATO-Russia Strategic Challenge in Krasnaya Zvezda, Feb 23, 2003 accessed at NATO on-line Library [3] July 28, 2006] between NATO and Russia on common terminology for extended air defence, in English, French and Russian.
Criticism
Some claim military terms serve to
Politicisation,
Dehumanization, or otherwise
Euphemism about its operations from an actual description thereof.
Similar to "
legalese" and related to "political terminology", military terms are known for an oblique tendency to incorporate technical language. In many cases, it reflects a need to be precise. It can also reflect a perceived need for operational security, giving away no more information than needed. It can also serve to disguise or distort meaning as with
doublespeak. "Kinetic activity" as a
buzzword for
combat, in use since the inception of the War on Terror, has been criticized as a don't-ask-don't-tell policy for murder.
See also
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Military terminology
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Glossary of German military terms
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Glossary of military abbreviations
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List of established military terms
Notes
External links
