Dreamspace Studio

In my last post, I said jargon is bullshit, and I stand by it. But there’s something deeper here: jargon isn’t just a barrier, it’s a tool that’s been used to keep people out. Sometimes that means keeping working-class folks out of “elite” professions.

Sometimes, it’s even more insidious. Jargon has roots in linguistic racism, designed to exclude people based on the way they talk, where they come from, or what language they speak at home.

Now, let me be upfront: I’m a white, American, non-binary, femme-presenting person. My obstacles aren’t about race; they’re about disability, neurodivergence, and gender. I recognize the privilege I carry, and I know that jargon never kept me out of a room because of my skin color. So it’s essential to be using that privilege to name what I see, educate others, and push for more open, honest language in the spaces I’m part of.

Here’s the thing about writing: it should be accessible. You don’t need a PhD in SEO or a stack of business cards to write, just paper, a pencil, and your own voice. But my field, writing, publishing, and SEO, is overflowing with jargon. “If you don’t know the lingo, you’re not a real writer.” That’s the lie we’re sold. But it’s not true. If you can communicate in any way, you belong in the writerly sphere and in the Dreamspace.

What Is Linguistic Racism?

Let’s be clear: linguistic racism is a grave injustice. It’s when language, words, grammar, accents, so-called “proper” speech, are weaponized to exclude, judge, and keep power out of reach for anyone who doesn’t fit a narrow, privileged mold.

It’s the reason “bad grammar” is used to dismiss Black, brown, immigrant, and working-class people. It’s the reason folks are told they “sound uneducated” for not matching some fake “standard.” It’s why job interviews, classrooms, and courtrooms all become traps if you don’t speak the right way, with the right accent, in the right code.

A Brief, Ugly History

Jargon as a wall isn’t new.

The Bible was kept in Latin for centuries. If you weren’t educated, if you didn’t speak the language of the priests, you couldn’t access the word of God. That wasn’t an accident; it was a way to keep the powerful powerful and the masses in the dark.

It happened in law, in medicine, in every colonial government; the people in charge created a fortress of language. You either learned their way or you stayed out. This didn’t just hurt the “common man,” it was explicitly weaponized to keep Black, Indigenous, and immigrant communities out of places that controlled resources, health, and justice.

Modern Jargon: The Gate Stands Strong

Fast forward:

• Healthcare: If you can’t decode “medicalese,” you’re at the mercy of a system that might not explain, might not care if you understand.
• Law: Legal jargon isn’t about clarity—it’s about keeping people confused and dependent on experts.
• Tech and business: If you don’t “speak the language,” you’re written off as unqualified, even if you have all the skills.
• Education: Kids who don’t use “standard English” get tracked into remedial classes, labeled as “behind,” and excluded from opportunities.

And every time someone says, “Well, that’s just the way it is,” what they really mean is: “That’s how we keep this club exclusive.”

Linguistic Racism in the Real World

Let’s name it. AAVE (African American Vernacular English) was never “wrong.” It’s a living language, with its own rules and rhythms, and it’s brilliant. Despite being labeled “improper”, “unsuitable,” or “unprofessional,” the people who speak it show remarkable resilience, often in the face of discrimination in job opportunities, pay, or even criminalization.

Immigrant accents are mocked. Code-switching is demanded. “You sound well spoken for a (insert racist slur here)” is handed out as a backhanded compliment, but it gets to decide what “smart” sounds like?

And then there’s class: Working-class folks are told that their way of speaking marks them as “less than,” even when they’re the backbone of every industry.

The message is always the same: If you don’t use our jargon, our grammar, our codes, you don’t belong.

Plain Language Is Power, Not Weakness

Let’s be clear, plain language is not “dumbing it down.” It’s opening the door. It’s making knowledge and opportunity available to everyone, not just the ones with the right dictionary.

If you’re truly knowledgeable in your field, you can explain it to anyone. If you choose not to, you’re protecting your own power, not the truth.

Accessibility isn’t charity, it’s solidarity. It says, “I want you here. I want you to understand. I refuse to make you beg for clarity.”

My Promise: No Gatekeeping Here

I can’t claim jargon kept me out because of my skin color or nationality. Still, I do know what it’s like to be talked down to, dismissed, or ignored because of disability, neurodivergence, or not fitting someone’s box. Using privilege to close doors is wrong; I’d rather use what privilege I have to prop them open.

If you ever encounter a term or concept on this blog or in my work that you don’t know, please don’t hesitate to ask. I’m here to provide explanations. There are no stupid questions, asked in good faith, here, only oppressive systems that try to keep people in the dark. This is a space of learning and understanding.

If anyone tries to shame you for not knowing, they can find the exit. I have a lovely ban hammer that I’m happy to use. Here, we answer questions. Here, we break cycles.

A Final Word: Rage and Action

If you’re angry, good. If you’ve felt this wall, you’re not alone. Name it, challenge it, refuse to play along. If you’re on the inside, use your voice to make the field wider. If you’re on the outside, know this: you belong here anyway.

Dreamspace is for everyone. We build bigger tables, not higher walls.

Share Your Story, Add Your Voice

Have you experienced linguistic racism where jargon, “proper” language, or technical lingo was used to keep you (or someone you know) out of a space you should have belonged in? Maybe it happened to a co-worker, a family member, at work, school, a service, or anywhere else.

Tell us about it.

Drop your story in the comments if you want to share.

If you’re a writer (or want to be), and you’d like to write a longer, more in-depth piece about your experience with linguistic gatekeeping, reach out I’d love to feature your story as a guest post (using the Guest Voices form) on the blog.

If you’d like, I’d be happy to swap and write something for your site as well.

Comments are always open for anyone who wants to be heard or join the conversation. Every story matters.