Let’s face it, every profession creates jargon.

Think of the secret handshake, only in terms of language. When conversing with each other, people in the same profession can understand words and expressions the rest of us would find bewildering. Architects are no different.

If you’ve ever worked with an architect, some of the “jargon” they use in their proposals, drawings or in conversation might sound familiar. Home shows like Property Brothers, Fixer Upper, Dream Home Makeover and even the PBS standby, This Old House may have introduced you to simple architectural terms like façade, threshold and modular. The more informed might even know the terms cantilever, eclectic, ergonomy, gentrification, kitsch and sustainability.

Words adapted to meet specific criteria?

It doesn’t even begin to stop there. Take the word typology. It’s been used through the ages to describe the study and classification of types of objects. Architects use it to mean the study of buildings and even urban spaces based on their essential characteristics. And how about pastiche? In architecture it means elements or designs emulating another architects.

You may ask, what, pray tell does genius loci mean?

Derived from Latin, it comes from Roman religious beliefs, according to Wikipedia, and refers to the protective spirit of a place. In architecture, it is used to mean the way a building or place makes you feel, or the impression it leaves.

The English language is infamous for taking words from other cultures and making them our own. As mentioned, we architects have done this with the word pastiche. We’ve also added a bit of a twist to the word charette. Literally, it translates from the French word charrette to mean “cart”, but in the nomenclature of architecture it is used to describe that often intense and sometimes stressful period of wrapping up a design or planning activity.

Vernacular is another word that has a number of meanings in English. One is the use of common, everyday language or the dialect of a particular region. Through the lens of architecture, it evolved to describe a style based on function and domestic use, taking advantage of locally available materials, rather than the creation of public or grand buildings. This makes perfect sense when you think about the elasticity and versatility of language.

Never a language to “color within the lines,” English has always borrowed from or been influenced by other languages and cultures. This has affected vocabulary, syntax, grammar, pronunciation and the creation of new idioms.

There are arguments regarding the relevance or necessity of some words.

Naturally, this kind of flexibility when interpreting words causes confusion, not only for English-language learners but for native speakers as well.

Remember the secret handshake?

Architects can understand their own nomenclature, but can the contractor who is constructing the building? This is where the exclusivity of professional language might leave room for confusion. In a thought-provoking article by ArchDaily, they provide a list of 150 weird words that only architects use. That statement isn’t 100% accurate, as some of the words have become part of our daily dialogue, even for non-architects.

However, comments to the article from architects and contractors alike made one thing perfectly clear. When providing the design guidelines, the ultimate goal should be one of clarity, using terms/terminology each profession involved can understand.

 

If you are considering a design project and want to explore your options, AplosGroup would love to discuss the possibilities.