technobabble

English

WOTD – 26 October 2006

Etymology

techno- +‎ babble

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈtɛknəʊbæbəl/ (RP)
• IPA^(key): /ˈtɛknoʊbæbəl/

• Audio (US):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -æbəl

Noun

technobabble (uncountable)

1. Technical or scientific language used in fiction to convey a false impression of meaningful technical or scientific content.
2. From the point of view of the layperson, technical and scientific literature not understood.

Quotations

• 1997 — Lawrence Miles, Alien Bodies, ch. 4, p. 84

  'Dimensional incursion? What kind of ludicrous technobabble is that supposed to—'
  Unexpectedly, he fell silent.

• 1998 — Peter Anghelides, Kursaal, ch. 1, p. 6

  'We are self-sufficient...We don't rely on clear skies and satellite access and not being deep underground, because of your wonderful technobabble devices.'

• 2006 — Michael Pritchard (comp.), Doctor Who Magazine, 376:45 (Nov)

  "And despite all the weird events the dialogue is naturalistic and light on technobabble", says Peter. "Such a relief after recent stories."

Translations

fake technical language used in fiction

• Czech: technoblábol n
• French: technobabillage m
• German: Technobabbel, Technobrabbel
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• Icelandic: tæknibull n
• Italian: tecno bla-bla
• Norwegian: teknobabbel

See also

• jargon