The 'Blindfolded AH-OONG' Phenomenon and the Rise of NaCling
Abstract
This paper introduces the concept of NaCling (sodium chloriding)—a systematic linguistic phenomenon whereby technical jargon is deployed as a semiotic veil over fundamental epistemic voids. Drawing upon the Korean idiom "blindfolded AH OONG" (눈 가리고 아웅), the authors develop a cross-domain taxonomy of semantic obfuscation spanning economics, politics, and artificial intelligence. We argue that the AI industry, in particular, has achieved an unprecedented degree of semiotic independence from its engineering substrate, approaching the status of a self-referential constructed language.
Fields of Study & Subjects
linguistics and terminology studies
Semiotics and Representation Studies
Cybernetics and Technology in Society
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
- Publication date
- 8 March 2026
- Language
- EN