Key Facts
- A definition is most useful beside the thing it explains.
- Several labels for the same part can create unnecessary confusion.
- Plain language still needs to preserve the relevant distinction.
- The workshop terms below are invented for this exercise, not standard terminology.
Which Terms Does The Viewer Actually Need?
In this fictional workshop, the team makes small foam scenery panels for a tabletop set. The designer has invented labels for parts of the prototype: a “nest mark”, a “return ridge” and a “bridge edge”. Those terms help the workshop team talk to each other, but a first-time viewer has never heard them.
The short shows how one panel fits against another. It does not need a glossary of every invented part. It needs the alignment mark and the raised edge involved in that action.
Underline every unfamiliar term in the draft. Ask whether the viewer must recognise the name later, or merely understand what to do now. Keep necessary names and translate one-off internal shorthand into ordinary words.
What Does A Jargon Translation Sheet Look Like?
This author-created table defines fictional workshop terminology for an imaginary prototype. Do not treat these definitions as guidance for real trade terms.
Scroll this table sideways to see every column.
| Draft Term | Meaning In This Fictional Design | Viewer-Facing Line | Visual Support | Decision |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nest mark | Dot showing where the next panel begins | “Line the panel up with this dot.” | Close-up of dot and panel edge | Omit the invented name |
| Return ridge | Raised strip that stops this panel sliding farther | “This raised strip is the stop. The panel rests against it.” | Side view showing contact | Use “stop” consistently |
| Bridge edge | Overhanging part covering the join between panels | “The overhanging edge covers the join.” | Overhead view before and after | Describe the shape and job |
| Seat check | Workshop shorthand for checking that the panel rests flat | “Check that the panel lies flat.” | Low view with the base visible | Replace the shorthand |
The output is a small vocabulary for the episode: dot, panel, stop, overhanging edge and join. The writer and editor can now use the same words without repeatedly translating the workshop notes.
How Does The Narration Change?
The rough version says: “Align the nest mark, engage the return ridge and complete the seat check before closing the bridge edge.” It sounds efficient to someone who built the prototype, but it asks a new viewer to learn four labels at once.
The revised version says: “Line the panel up with this dot. This raised strip is the stop. Slide the panel until it meets the stop, then check that it lies flat. Now fold the overhanging edge across the join.”
The revised lines identify the parts and actions as they appear on screen. They contain more words, but the viewer can follow each instruction without learning four workshop labels first.
Build the visible action sequence: https://dreamwild.ai/guides/cause-and-effect-short/
When Should You Keep The Technical Name?
Keep it when the name is the lesson, when it prevents ambiguity or when the viewer needs it to find the right part or source later. Introduce it with the concrete meaning: “This raised strip is the stop,” then show it.
For real technical subjects, verify the definition and pronunciation using appropriate sources. Do not invent a simple definition from the shape of an unfamiliar word. If the term has several meanings, identify the one used in this context.
Avoid pretending an analogy is exact. A comparison can help introduce an idea, but state the point at which it stops matching if that difference affects the explanation.
How Do You Check The Finished Wording?
Give a reader the rough narration and image sequence. Ask them to point to each named part and describe the next action. If they point to the wrong edge, the wording or framing needs work.
Check captions for the same vocabulary. A narrator saying “stop” while the caption says “ridge” reintroduces a distinction the script deliberately removed. Check voice pronunciation separately from whether the definition is correct.
Prepare any difficult words for the voice review: https://dreamwild.ai/guides/pronunciation-retake-sheet/
Keep the translation sheet with the project. It gives future episodes a starting vocabulary, while leaving room for a new term when a new distinction appears.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I Remove Every Technical Word?
No. Keep words the viewer needs, define them accurately and show what they refer to. Remove jargon that adds no useful distinction.
Is A Longer Plain-Language Sentence Always Better?
No. Check whether it clarifies the idea without adding unrelated detail. The aim is understandable precision, not replacing one term with a paragraph.
Can I Invent Names For Parts In My Own Demonstration?
Yes, if you identify them as labels for your example and use them consistently. Do not imply they are established terminology in a real profession.
What If A Simplified Definition Becomes Inaccurate?
Restore the necessary distinction, narrow the explanation or choose a different example. Simplicity is not a reason to teach a false relationship.
Your next step
Put the idea to work.
Bring your terminology sheet to DreamWild's scriptwriting workflow so the narration and visual brief use the same clear vocabulary.
Shape your next script https://dreamwild.ai/youtube-scriptwriting/