Pharmaceutical Jargons Used in Pharmaceutical Service of Apotek Wahana Medika Bekasi

Abstract

This study aims to find out the use of jargons in pharmaceutical service of  Apotek Wahana Medika Bekasi and to analyze the social context underlaying  the use of jargons in the communication between the pharmacists and doctors, and other clinical  workers. This study is  a descriptive qualitative as it tries to reveal the use of jargons as one of the language varieties in sociolinguistic field. Language variety refers to a set of communicative forms and norms for their use that are restricted to a particular group, community or activities. Pharmaceutical jargons  are specific vocabulary or expressions  used by  pharmaceutical staffs in their communication. This kind of  expression  is  essential  to ease communication between them but it might not be understood by common people outside their community. The object of this study is pharmacists, doctors, and pharmaceutical workers who involve in the pharmaceutical service of Apotek Wahana Medika Bekasi. It is assumed that they use specific language suspected to be their jargon. To collect the data, observation and interview were conducted and recorded. Besides, relevant document suspected to contain jargons were reviewed. The data findings revealed  the use of jargons and their social  contexts in the communication among the pharmacists. As pharmaceutical jargons are their specific terms in their work setting,  they are part of English for Occupational Purpose (EOP). The knowledge of these terms, their meaning and social contexts  are worth analyzing. Further, the study of specific terms such as jargon might be used as research or material development of training program or for higher school of pharmacy.