MORPHOLOGY IN ATTRACTION BASED RETAIL
Morphology in Attraction Based Retail:
Retail Employee Jargon
Natasha Elander
English 1200 - Introduction to the Study of Linguistics
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Hypothesis
An individual’s lexicon increases and language is altered after prolonged periods of time in
specific environments. Words and phrases are learned and added to their everyday language,
becoming normalized to the speaker, even if it is a language/jargon not known outside of this
respective environment. This jargon has the ability to become so ingrained in the speaker, that
they use it to those outside of the jargon based group, sometimes causing confusion for both the
speaker and listener. By dissecting jargon used with basic morphological methods and
knowledge, not only can an understanding of the jargon can be reached, but an understanding of
why the jargon is developed, and the words it is developed from.
Abstract
For this Linguistics Final project, the language used by a Utah’s Hogle Zoo (UHZ) retail
employee was researched. I wanted to investigate the language learned through daily work onsite, and the morphology of this language. This research set out to prove that jargon used in a
work environment becomes normal to the user, and roots itself easily into the speaker spending
time in the environment. Laynee Waresnki, the individual whose language I have analyzed, has
worked in the retail department at UHZ for about four years. She has picked up language; words,
phrases, etc., that are unique to her work and location. Through recording her describing her
work, the day-to-day aspects, events and stories, and asking her for details, I have found specific
words and phrases that have been learned and rooted in Laynee’s lexicon directly from her work
environment.
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Introduction
The hypothesis for this project stems from an everyday language reality: jargon. Jargon is
defined in the class’s text Contemporary Linguistics: An Introduction as a language created by
people associated with a particular work, hobby, etc. that contains its own specific vocabulary of
terms (p. 516). Jargon is an intriguing language characteristic, created by a group of people all
involved in the same environment or activity. The hypothesis wanted to test the extent of jargon,
and the normalcy that jargon takes on to its speaker.
Jargon is a component of Morphology, which is the area of linguistics focused on words
and word formation (p. 116). Morphology analyzes words and word structure, from a words
smallest components, morphemes, to words and longer phrases creates through attaching
prefixes and affixes etc.
Derivation, the affixational process of forming words with meanings or categories (verbs,
nouns, etc.) that are different from its base word (p. 122), is an extremely important process of
Morphology and Jargon. Derivation is an essential of jargon, since many jargon phrases are
categorized by a derivational change to a word.
There are many other morphological phenomena that effect the meaning of a word or
create new words that also directly impact jargon. Compounding, combining to words to create a
meaning (p. 127), Clipping, the shortening of polysyballic words (p. 139), and Backformation,
creating new words by the removal of an affix from a word (p. 140), are just a few ways that
jargon can be created from pre-existing language.
This project dove deeper into her language used, picking out specific examples of jargon
that morphed from a more understandable phrase to an outsider. The analysis of these examples
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will help those outside of the UHZ retail environment understand the morphological
development of the jargon used by its retail employees, and why the jargon itself was developed.
Methodology
To research this hypothesis, I engaged Laynee in a conversation about her work. While
the recording aspect did have some implications on the recording (some of it being unnatural),
much of the language seemed true to Laynee and her language. When jargon was used, I would
ask her to expand on what she was saying, to describe what she meant. When pauses occurred, I
prompted her with questions stemming from my basic knowledge of her job.
Laynee agreed to be recorded, and signed a release form submitting to the recording. The
recording was taken on my Samsung Galaxy 3 Smartphone via a recording application. It was
then transferred to my laptop through a USB cable.
Results
Jargon has definitely been learned and implemented into Laynee’s language. Throughout
the recording, Laynee used many utterances that were job specific, and would be confusing to an
outsider. This language has become such a part of Laynee’s lexicon that the usage of it seemed
completely ‘normal’ and simple to her, and she seemed to believe it was a language that could be
understood by any listener.
During the many moments in the recording when Laynee used words and phrases that
could not be understood to those outside of her work environment, I asked her to elaborate or
explain things further. When asked to expand on the meaning of the words or phrases used, she
seemed slightly startled by the listener’s inability to understand the language she used, proving
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that the jargon she uses daily in her work has become so ingrained in her lexicon, that to her it is
“regular” or “normal” language.
Below I have transcribed a handful of the words and phrases Laynee has used, and have
broken them down, in trees, and described them, considering the usage in a sentence, and
Laynee’s descriptions. By doing this, it is a bit easier to see the origin of the jargon, and possibly
some of the reasoning as to why the specific words and phrases were created.
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Cart
N
N
N
N
N
Af
N
N
Cart
Cart
s
Exit
Cart
‘Cart’ is a word used often in Laynee’s recording. While the derivation (form) of the word
remains the same throughout the jargon (noun), the meaning is what differs in UHZ jargon. Cart
has become a synonym for “satellite store” or a location store. ‘Cart’ is also typically being
compounded with a specific word, to denote the specific cart’s location or items that it sells, i.e.:
‘Monkey Cart,’ ‘Elephant Cart,’ and ‘Exit Cart’ (treed above).
-
Promo
N
Adj.
N
N
Promotional Plush
N
Promo
‘Promo’ is a word used often to describe a sale item from the store that Laynee and the other
retail employees sell. It stems from the original phrase ‘Promotional Plush’ which goes through a
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backforming and clipping process, to become the shortened word ‘Promo.’
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Relief
N
N
N
N
Relief
Lunch
V
N
V
Relief
Relieve
V
V
Relieve
Af
-ing
Relief gets a somewhat of an altered meaning in the UHZ jargon. Staff can be specifically
scheduled as the ‘Lunch Relief,’ making them the individual who gives breaks to other
employees. The word ‘Relief’ is compounded to become ‘Lunch Relief.’ The act of giving these
breaks called ‘Relieving,’ turning the noun of ‘Relief’ into a verb.
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Walk Floor
V
N
V
Walk
N
(the)
V
N
Sales Floor
V
N
Walk
Floor
The phrase ‘Walk Floor,’ or ‘Walking Floor,’ is a phrase created in Laynee’s work environment.
This phrase takes a sentence and morphs it into one simple compounded word. It is done with a
bit of backforming, and assumes that the person ‘walking floor’ understands that ‘floor’ fills the
place of the deleted ‘sales.’ As Laynee describes it, this jargon phrase means to ‘walk the sales
floor; cleaning and interacting with shoppers.’ The shortened direction is a faster version to fire
off to an employee.
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Doom Time
N
N
N
N
Doom
Time
N
N
Doom
N
Time
While the created phrase ‘Doom Time’ is not derivational in anyway (As it remains a noun
throughout its compounding) it is a specific phrase that holds a specific meaning to Laynee and
the staff at UHZ. Saying just the utterance ‘Doom Time’ (a time of night when every
register/computer crashes) would immediately register an understanding with the staff in retail.
‘Doom Time’ means one specific time and happening only, and all staff are aware of this phrases
history.
-
Greeter
V
N
V
V
Af
Greet
Greet
-er
Greeter is a word created to describe “the person who greets.” The word ‘greet’ goes through a
derivational change as the affix –er turns the verb into a noun. In her work, Laynee has a specific
staff person scheduled to greet shopper who come into the retail store.
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Foods
N
N
N
N
Food
Department
N
Food
Af
-s
‘Foods’ is the word used in replacement of the phrase ‘food department’ at UHZ. Phrases like
“in foods” are used instead of “in the food department.” And while the clipping of the word
department does not cause a derivational change, the shortening of the words makes the
reference in regular conversation a little tricky to understand if you are not acquainted with the
UHZ work environment.
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Bags
N
N
N
N
Till
Bags
N
Bags
At UHZ, ‘Bags’ is a backformed word for the phrase ‘till bags’ or ‘register bags.’ It is used in
phrases like “Go count the bags,” or “Set up the bags.” Laynee’s usage of this word suggests that
using ‘bags’ is enough for everyone to know that ‘till bags’ (or ‘bags full of money’) are being
referenced. Most likely, this was backformed for efficiency or utterance and to ensure that staff
could discuss their register bags while in store without necessarily letting shoppers know they
were discussing money.
MORPHOLOGY IN ATTRACTION BASED RETAIL
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Plushies
N
N
Plush
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Adj
N
N
N
-Af
Animal
Plush
-y
N
Plush
Adj.
-y
Af
-ies
The phrase ‘plush animal’ goes through a few formations here. It is clipped to become just
‘plush,’ but they becomes ‘plushy,’ the description of something that is ‘like plush.’ This is a
derivational change, which then is morphed again into ‘plushies,’ a word meaning ‘multiple
plush animals.’ This is another derivational change, from adjective to noun. The shortening of a
full description most likely makes it easier to quickly make staff aware of the item(s) being
discussed.
-
Spoilage
V
V
Spoil
N
V
Spoil
Af
-age
Spoilage is used once in the recording to describe spoiled (damaged or broken) store product.
Spoilage goes through a derivational change, morphing from the verb ‘spoil’ to ‘spoilage,’ which
is a noun (and most often considered in a “plural” form). This affixation is convenient, and easier
to communicate with staff. It also prevents staff from using words like “broken product” etc., in
front of shoppers who may be buying a similar product.
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Overall, it appears that much of the jargon used in Laynee’s work environment was
created for ease and efficiency. Shortening words and phrases makes it easier to direct staff in
busy sales times, and using words that only the staff understands prevents problems with
shoppers in store.
The jargon itself is not difficult to understand when explained and broken down, treed
out, and defined.
Implications
The findings in this research is relevant to Laynee’s life because her usage of this
language does set her apart from those who are not able to understand it. This could become a
problem if she has difficulty explaining her meaning, or if people refuse to listen.
Finding so many examples of this jargon usage and possible word confusion also leads
me to believe that it happens in almost any work place, activity setting, etc.
As far as language judgments, I don’t necessarily have any. I am intrigued by the ability
of people to change, alter, and create words, especially words for specific situations and
environments.
Moving forward I think I will just make sure to put in an effort to understand the
language of someone I don’t understand, and not to hesitate to ask questions to further my
understanding.
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References
O’Grady, W., Archibald, J., Aronoff, M., Rees-Miller, J. (2010). Contemporary Linguistics: An
Introduction (6th edition). Boston/New York. Bedford/St. Martins.
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