The vernacular of workers' compensation has often been the target of derision and ire. In this, we are no different than a spectrum of specialties that form their own variety of shortcuts and abbreviations.
Welcome to the world of your (or your employee's) work accident. Let's discuss MCC, TTD, TPD, MMI, IB, PTD, AOA, C&S, P&I, PICA, MMI, PPI, and so much more. For the frequent participant or the professional earning a living in this space, it becomes familiar and comfortable. For the newcomer, not so much.
I was reminded of that when an Upworthy post hit my feed recently. This referenced "nonce" words and phrases in rock and roll. The article claims that various words were "made up for songs." Their examples are memorable, but the comments that followed were more informative for me.
Upworthy noted "Pompatus, Sue-Sue-Sussudio, Fergalicious, Ob-La-Di-Ob-La-Da, and Feminonmenon." In my generation, four of these will be pretty obvious. But, the origin that last one from someone named Chappell Roah and Dan Nigro was new to me at least.
Commenters added: "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida," "Gunter glieben glauchen globen." "ting tang walla walla bing bang," "mmm bop," "curly-wurly," "he got toe-jam football" "Groos," "hubcap diamond star halo," "Do wah diddy diddy, dum diddy do," "koo koo kah choo," "A-weema-weh," and "shizzle." There were multiple expressions of confusion or curiosity.
One of those above was from
Blinded by the Light (Manfred Mann, 1973). That song tells a compelling story. About what, I have no idea.
One commenter noted simply:
"If you are unable to infer the meaning of a word in a song from its context, the song was not written for you. If it was written for you, you know"
Where does all this lead? Well, we can learn a few things.
First, it is possible that words can be made up, mispronounced, or deployed out of context. Just because someone says it does not compel you to accept it.
Second, going along with the crowd may seem the path of least resistance. Nonetheless, if the terms don't make sense to you, look into them further; ask questions.
Third, we should not be dependent on some statement being "written for" us. In the world of medicine, law, and workers' compensation, the point is communication. That requires words we can all understand and easily access.
Fourth, access. That needs to mean dictionary meanings. We cannot be aware of every potential slang meaning some culture, somewhere, attaches to a word. That asks too much, and such an expectation is beyond the capability of most.
The real point is that words matter. They matter to the person speaking/writing them and to a variety of people who will then hear/read them. We have to focus on the point—communicating information. That goal is furthered if we watch our own output, encourage feedback, ask questions, and use our dictionary.
