JARGON AS A SOCIOLINGUISTIC PHENOMENON IN ENGLISH AND UZBEK CONTEXTS

This study examines jargon as a specialized lexical subsystem within Sociolinguistics, focusing on its structural, functional, and social features. Drawing on the works of Ronald Wardhaugh, Miriam Meyerhoff, William Labov and John Swales, the study considers jargon both as a communicative tool and as a marker of social identity. It identifies four main forms — words, phrases, abbreviations, and acronyms—and highlights their functions in ensuring precision, efficiency, and clarity in professional discourse. The analysis also applies social identity theory and the concept of communities of practice to show how jargon reflects group membership and shared knowledge. Examples from English and Uzbek in medical, business, technical, and maritime contexts demonstrate processes of borrowing and adaptation. The findings indicate that jargon plays a significant role in professional communication and in the development of competence within English for Specific Purposes (ESP).