One compelling reason to diversify vocabulary
(On phobias, pay freezes and double jeopardy)
The highlight of the afternoon TV show that day was a local celebrity famous for being wealthy and a socialite. She had lately been visiting mental institutions a lot, she explained, researching her next book whose main character had mental issues. She felt like an expert in terminology, and it showed. When asked about her shiny Bentley, she said, "I really love cars. I love them so much, it's like a phobia."
I recalled that episode a year later and half the world away when a late-night conversation gradually drifted towards the economic turmoil. "Do you know pay has been frozen for government officials?" – inquired my friend. – "Just imagine, those people now work for free!"
My lazy attempts to protest were instantly dismissed, and the talk flowed on; minutes later we were already discussing a doctor who was in prison for practicing euthanasia. "Anyway, once he is released, he will be free to euthanize for the rest of his life," I was told. "Since nobody can be prosecuted a second time for the same offence, he can now commit that offence with complete immunity."
Now let me make one thing clear: I am not arguing people are dumb. But most tend to avoid extra efforts, and that includes extra thinking, too. Let alone voluntary search for reliable information if a guess sounds good enough. Besides, this particular kind of guess doesn't even register as such. Assumptions are made so fast they are perceived as knowledge.
A practical implication is that messages get distorted in unpredictable ways. When you are taking into account cultural differences, generational differences and all other obvious things, there is still a possibility that some of the people you are talking to (1) don't know what some of the words you are using mean and (2) don't realize they don't know.
Lesson? Diversify vocabulary. Definitely do when you are talking to a general audience. Even when you are targeting experts, this strategy may be useful: they surely know the terms, but you are telling them something new and you want to make sure they get you right.
Take a look at your key points. Find a different set of words to express them. If you are stuck, use a thesaurus: you may like this one, or this one, or this one. Weave alternative phrasing into your speech or writing and make sure it doesn't sound like "let me explain this to you as I'm not sure you know the word." Figure out a natural way to introduce another description of the same concept. Instead of the straightforward "pay has been frozen, which means..." try the more subtle "<...> has been frozen. The ban on pay raises will remain in force until...".
An extra effort, yes. You may hate it, we know. But you don't want them to misinterpret something important, like the Fifth Amendment or one of your brilliant, breakthrough ideas, do you?