Colloquialism, also known as everyday language or general parlance, is the type of language used for informal communication. It is the most common way people speak in casual conversations and other informal situations. Colloquialism often includes expressive phrases, idioms, a focus on humans or human experiences, and a vocabulary that changes often. It is also marked by sentences that do not always follow strict rules for logic or structure.

When a specific example of this language is used, it is called a colloquialism. The term most commonly found in dictionaries to describe such expressions is "colloquial."

Definition

Colloquialism is different from formal speech or writing. It is a type of language people often use when they are relaxed and not paying close attention to how they speak or choose their words. Dictionaries mark some words as colloquial when other words are preferred in formal situations. This does not mean that colloquial words are always slang or incorrect.

Some colloquial language includes slang, but not all of it does. Slang is sometimes used in casual speech, but it is usually limited to specific groups of people and is not required for casual language. Other examples of casual language in English include shortened forms of words or words that are considered offensive.

The word "colloquial" should not be confused with "non-standard." The difference between standard and non-standard language is not the same as the difference between formal and casual language. As Peter Trudgill explained, formal, casual, and informal language are more about how people choose to speak or write, rather than about whether language is standard or not. However, in some cases, "colloquial" might be used to describe "non-standard" language, depending on how terms are defined.

In the study of language, "colloquial language" refers to everyday spoken language, unlike specialized forms used in areas like logic or philosophy. In logical atomism, meaning is judged differently than in more formal statements.

Colloquial names

A colloquial name or familiar name is a simple term used to describe a person or thing in everyday language, instead of a more formal or technical name. These names are not slang or rude, but they are less formal. This kind of language is used widely to talk about many different subjects.

In biology, colloquial names are also called "common names." Many common pests have these names. For example, the scientific group armadillidiidae is often called "rollie pollies," and the young of flies are frequently called "maggots."

In medicine, certain injuries and fractures have colloquial names. For example, the injury known as lateral epicondylitis is often called "tennis elbow."

In professional settings, colloquial expressions often include sayings or phrases. For example, when questioning why an action should not be done, someone might say, "why in God's name not?"

Distinction from other styles

Colloquialisms are different from slang and jargon. Slang is words used only by certain groups, like those based on where they live, age, or social background. Jargon is used mainly in specific jobs, industries, or areas of interest. Colloquial language includes slang, as well as abbreviations, shortened words, idioms, common phrases, and other informal words that most native speakers of a language know.

Jargon is special words that are clearly defined for a particular job, activity, or group. These words are used by people who work in a certain field or share a common interest. Like slang, jargon is a quick way to talk about things that people in the group often discuss. However, jargon is usually created on purpose. Sometimes, a regular word is used in a more specific way by people in a certain field. However, jargon can make it hard for people who don't know the field to understand.