When it comes to language, many people distinguish between "prescriptivism" (the idea that correct usage should be defined by authorities) and "descriptivism" (the idea that any way a lot of people use the language is correct).

Dogs mull over human speech much the way we do, and they try hard to decipher what we're saying to them, a new study suggests. The research, published in the journal Current Biology, shows that our dogs are riveted to our words.

The grass roots are at war with astroturf . Yellow Dog Democrats become boll weevils and then Blue Dogs. Beltway bandits troll Pennsylvania Avenue in search of earmarks and extenders . Say what? Every subculture has its lingo, but few add secret code faster than the American political class.

Psychological research shows that jargon kills attention, comprehension, retention and motivation.