The overuse of tired metaphors, pseudo-technical jargon and sentences that just won’t end are all indicative of a disease that has burrowed its way deep into the language of business – and it is a one way ticket to disengagement.
Moving forward, we plan to implement a 21st Century reciprocal program, so that we can advance regenerated logistical options and initiateour’Blue Sky’ strategic capability.Confused? I know I am.
The above quote is an example of the language I often hear before helping business people improve their presentation skills. The overuse of tired metaphors, pseudo-technical jargon and sentences that just won’t end are all indicative of a disease that has burrowed its way deep into the language of business – and it is a one way ticket to disengagement.
Where and when did we first contract this illness of expression? Well, it’s hard to say exactly, but it seems this blight on the English language is not new. In fact, George Orwell, the author of1984andAnimal Farm, had this to say about it in his essayPolitics and the English Language published way back in 1946: ‘Most people…would admit that the English language is in a bad way…’
If the main purpose of delivering a business presentation is to get our ideas across in a clear and concise manner, why are we deliberately sabotaging ourselves? Why are we writing in a verbose and nonsensical style that alienates the very audience we are trying relate to? Why don’t we simply express our thoughts with clarity, precision and originality?
One answer to this riddle, according to Orwell, is that we are influenced by the language used around us, that; ‘bad usage can spread by tradition and imitation even among people who should and do know better’. Another reason, Orwell says, is that we are basically lazy; ‘the debased language…is in some ways very convenient’.
What can we do about it? There is a remedy that Orwell offers to cure the ‘decadence of our language’: six simple rules to free ourselves from the ‘barbarous’ misuse of the English language and write in a clear and easy to understand way. These are:
‘i. Never use a metaphor, simile, or other figure of speech which you are used to seeing in print.
ii. Never use a long word where a short one will do.
iii. If it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out.
iv. Never use the passive where you can use the active.
v. Never use a foreign phrase, a scientific word, or a jargon word if you can think of an everyday English equivalent.
vi. Break any of these rules sooner than say anything outright barbarous.’
There you have it, simple rules to write by, six commonsense ideas that will help you to get your ideas across with greater clarity. So the next time you put pen to paper, or fingers to keyboard, spare a thought for Orwell and his advice and avoid confusing the very people you want to connect with . Or, to put it another way: when reaching out, don’t negate your primary communities’ authentic connection to the “bright spark” that you want to consociate with …..or not.
See what I mean?
Sean Hall is an actor, NIDA Corporate tutor and guest blogger.
