This sums it all up for me: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J7E-aoXLZGY
:)
I enjoyed that, and agree. Words are my slaves not my masters, and perfect accuracy isnt needed for clarity. Nor is there any reason to adhere to any given set of linguistic rules in the face of the fact that language is and always has been an evolving thing.
However, my objection to various forms of managementese stand. Less for the technical reasons, more for the underlying bullshitee they represent. 'Professional' buzzwords are indicative of the exact opposite of professionality; they're an attempt to fit into a workplace by making the right noises and climb ladders by talking the right talk, dazzle listeners and impress upon them your effectiveness with a few choice bar-stewardisations of existing words and terms and liberal use of hyper-correction, as though paid by the syllable. Thats fine, I suppose, but what really gets me about this use of language is that its normally used by the less than competent; people like to use the new(ish) language of proactiveness and modern business but havent the skills or resourcefullness to back it up. Basically, they tend to be brown-nosing 'game-players' more interested than looking good than actually doing any work.
That and you really have to hear this shite spoken in person; the emphasese placed on the managementese phrases, like they just thought of the bloody word then and there, makes me nauseous.
/Rant.
It reminds me of a study I read...I wish I could remember who by now, I'd go and find it....but cant...anyway, the basic jist is that the most important factor in being accepted into a group or subculture is the use of that subculture or groups lexicon. We really do, by and large, care more that people talk the talk than walk the walk. Shame really. Managementese is one where the talk can entirely supplant the walk, however, and people that are profoundly inept can do well by making the right noises.
The other thing that pisses me off is text-speak. I can sort of understand it in text messages, where theres a limited character count and you want to get more said, but when I see it in emails or posts it makes my $%&#ing piss boil. Take the extra couple of seconds to not look like a $%&#ing retard; use actual words. And what group are people showing membership of using textese outside of a text? ASBO-holders? The sub-normally intelligent? Teenagers from 1998?
Anyway, /rant #2. As you were.
