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Reader question: Please explain “mumbo-jumbo” in this sentence: “Ever get confused by all of the political mumbo-jumbo in the media today?” My comments: Have you ever got confused by all of the political mumbo-jumbo in the media today? The answer has to be yes, of course, when we get to understand what political mumbo-jumbo is. So, what is political mumbo-jumbo? In a word, it is officialese or official language, or simply a politician’s speech, any speech. The very best politicians, to use the words of their best critics, can speak for hours without saying anything. That’s about nailing it. A politician’s speech is so full of jargons, euphemisms and empty talk that afterwards, you remember nothing. That’s right. And that’s what mumbo-jumbo does to you. You may view mumbo-jumbo as a variation of mumble-jumble. To mumble, you see, is to try to make sounds while you are chewing food. Jumble, on the other hand, means mixture. When we see these two words bundled together, it’s easy to guess their meaning. Yes, mumble-jumble refers to unintelligible sounds we make as though we had a mouthful of food. Political mumble-jumble, then, refers to a seasoned politician’s empty talk. A good politician, we understand, will beat about the bush for hours without coming to or near the point. In other words, he or she will talk about anything but the real issue. And when they eventually do address the issue, their language is so full of jargon and platitudes that they become empty and confusing. | 
