JUNGLE TELEGRAPH Meaning and
Definition
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Jungle telegraph is a colloquial term that refers to a mode of communication among people in a rural or remote area, typically lacking modern technology or means of instant communication. This term originated from the concept of telegraph, which was an early electrical communication system. However, the so-called "jungle" in the phrase refers metaphorically to a dense, wild, or isolated environment, emphasizing the lack of conventional means of communication.
Jungle telegraph commonly signifies the transmission of news, information, or gossip through word of mouth or informal networks within a community. In such contexts, individuals might spread information quickly by personally relaying messages or rumors from one person to another. This can occur within small villages, isolated towns, or rural areas where access to telephone lines, internet, or other modern communication technologies is limited or nonexistent.
The term often carries connotations of shared community knowledge, as well as an informal and unofficial manner of relaying information. It suggests an effective method of communication within isolated communities, where news and events can travel rapidly through personal connections. Jungle telegraph essentially denotes an alternate system of communication that relies on interpersonal relationships, trust, and oral transmission.
By extension, the concept can also be metaphorically applied to situations in modern society where word-of-mouth or informal networks are used to disseminate information quickly and outside of official channels.
Etymology of JUNGLE TELEGRAPH
The term "jungle telegraph" is believed to have originated from the era of European colonialism in Africa, specifically from the late 19th to early 20th century. It refers to a system of communication used by indigenous people in the remote jungle regions of Africa, before the advent of modern telecommunication methods.
The term "jungle" refers to the dense, impenetrable vegetation found in these regions, while "telegraph" alludes to the long-distance communication system that was prevalent during that time. The indigenous people would use various methods to relay messages through the dense jungle, such as drumming, smoke signals, or using runners to carry information from one community to another.
As Europeans observed this primitive yet effective communication system, they coined the term "jungle telegraph" to describe a way of transmitting information through seemingly impassable terrain.
Idioms with the word JUNGLE TELEGRAPH
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jungle telegraph
The phrase "jungle telegraph" is used to refer to informal and rapid communication, often through gossip or rumors. It originated from the idea that messages could be transmitted quickly across a jungle or forest through word of mouth, similar to an actual telegraph system.
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hear (something) on the jungle telegraph
To hear something on the jungle telegraph means to hear a piece of information or gossip through informal channels or word of mouth, rather than through official or formal means. It is often used to describe rumors or news that spread quickly through a community or group of people.
