"Tactical Language" (from the Police) is from "Tactical Warfare" (from the Military) etymologically?

Question

Tactical Language has specific meaning for the police, and Tactical Warfare has another possibly/suspiciously related meaning for the military [separately or equally?], with known use/abuse in laws, and seemingly limited definition.
(A) https://www.google.com/search?q=%22tactical+language%22+police+meaning is the best I can do because Wiktionary and actual Encyclopedias/Dictionaries lack clear explanation even though U.S. law seems to magically/perfectly understand how to use the word.
Snippet provided officially/algorithmically by Google search results as first result at top of page:

"Though many police officers may use profanity (sometimes referred to
as “tactical language”) as an additional use of force tool, its use
may lead to increased risk to the officer by way of subject
retaliation or backlash from the public due to a perception that the
officer is “out of control” (Baseheart & Cox, 1993)." —Christina L. Patton, PhD
https://www.apadivisions.org/division-18/publications/newsletters/public-service/2018/01/police-profanity#:~:text=Though%20many%20police%20officers%20may,Baseheart%20%26%20Cox%2C%201993) (archive of the doctor's quote from the American Psychological Association: http://web.archive.org/web/20200916104659/https://www.apadivisions.org/division-18/publications/newsletters/public-service/2018/01/police-profanity).

(B) The linking of https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tactical_warfare&redirect=no (https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tactical_warfare&oldid=240056859) would say Tactical Warfare means Military Tactics. Based on the #REDIRECT function setting pointing/defining one phrase to the other there which is rather etymological?

nick012000 · Answer

Sort of, maybe.
I haven't heard of "tactical language" being used as a euphemism for "profanity" before, but I think there might possibly be a connection between it and the military meaning of "tactical".
"Tactical" is the adjective version of the word "tactic", which refers to a technique or plan used to gain an advantage in a particular engagement (as opposed to "strategy" which refers to a technique or plan used to gain an advantage over a series of engagements). For instance, you might have a "tactical withdrawal" where soldiers withdraw from a particular location in order to gain an advantage over their enemies, or to mitigate an advantage their enemies have over them.
In this particular case, regarding "tactical language", a police officer might make a decision to use a particular form of language in order to gain an advantage over a person, for instance, by speaking in an authoritative tone to gain compliance, or swearing at them to try to intimidate them, or to anger and incite them into taking illogical actions.

"Tactical Language" (from the Police) is from "Tactical Warfare" (from the Military) etymologically?

One Answer

Sort of, maybe.

Add your own answers!

Ask a Question