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MORPHOLOGY IN ATTRACTION BASED RETAIL 1

Morphology in Attraction Based Retail:

Retail Employee Jargon

Natasha Elander

English 1200 - Introduction to the Study of Linguistics


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 on-

site, 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.


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


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


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.

- 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 N

Adj. N N

Promotional Plush 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


backforming and clipping process, to become the shortened word ‘Promo.’

- Relief

N N V V

N N N V V Af

Relief Lunch Relief Relieve Relieve -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.

- Walk Floor

V N V

V N N V N

Walk (the) Sales Floor 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.


- Doom Time

N N N

N N N N

Doom Time Doom 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.


- Foods

N N

N N N Af

Food Department Food -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.

- Bags

N N

N N N

Till Bags 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.


- Plushies

N Adj N

N N N -Af N Adj. Af

Plush Animal Plush -y Plush -y -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 N

V V Af

Spoil Spoil -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.


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.


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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