Comments on: Corporate Jargon: Please. Can you speak like a human being?

By: Sylvain

Sylvain — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 16:42:08 +0000

Hi!
I’m french and I was looking on the internet for a kind of dctionnary of “corporate terms” that are used every day at work.
I found this article by chance and I’m quite astonished.
In France, most of “corporate words” are english. For french people, speaking english seems to be a sign of extreme intellectual superiority!!!
Really I was sure that this problem was particularely french as we use english words to please our egos, I couldn’t think of english guys using french word to have a “dans le vent” behavior!! :p

Consequently, thanks for this article, I feel less lonesome today, and I will smile a little more knowing other people cannot support thoses way of talking!!!

By: Chris

Chris — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 00:03:40 +0000

Great article as ever: Nicely laid out and brilliantly articulated. I love the way you write - especially your 100% accurate usage of grammar, punctuation and English in general.

Each article you publish makes for a truly enjoyable read. Thanks!

@Megan, I love the phrase you use at the end of your comment. I may have to use it if I ever have the chance to teach somebody to use a thesaurus: Use less words more efficiently, not more words less efficiently.

By: Nayole

Nayole — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 09:01:03 +0000

Jay,

Foud your site as i was researching the meaning of something abreviations i read and did not understand. Not an English speaker, but it isnt very different over here in Angola. Similar attitude in a different language. Great article. You have made me laugh.

Sylvia equaly great response. You have humor.

By: Andrew R.

Andrew R. — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 15:40:33 +0000

Good article!
Incorrect use of *you’re* vs *your* drives me crazy though.

“…there is a point beyond which you’re communication becomes worthless.”

By: Jay

Jay — Wed, 28 May 2008 21:21:44 +0000

@Sylvia

That is brilliant! Deconflicting our corporate communications?? I wonder how these people manage to buy a loaf of bread.

A: “We need a strategy for deconflicting our corporate communications.”
B: “Then we’ll need to dissect our unifying interconnection.”
…
B: “You’re fired.”

By: Sylvia

Sylvia — Wed, 28 May 2008 18:30:09 +0000

I had a consulting client once who said “We need a strategy for deconflicting our corporate communications.”
Asking him for a definition would have meant additional hours of pontification so I enjoyed an open-eyed nap until he was finished with whatever crap he had to say. He was obviously part of the problem he was trying to solve.

By: Aravind

Aravind — Mon, 05 May 2008 09:18:39 +0000

Wonderful article.
Me too share the same feeling as of Jay.

Many people think, talking without industry-related terms (rightly called buzzwords), makes them seem un-professional.
Their speech could create a verbal impact, but, it never conveys what it intended to.

And Jay, I loved this:
“When he asked for feedback in his annual review, I commented that “a dog scratching a door communicates his needs far better than you do.”"

By: Sumesh

Sumesh — Mon, 05 May 2008 08:44:17 +0000

An entertaining article indeed. I often wonder why people associate lack of personal emotions = professionalism. More often than not, such ‘professionalism’ makes things complicated.

Ah…the curses of established traditions

By: Megan

Megan — Mon, 05 May 2008 03:53:11 +0000

It takes a good amount of confidence and courage to be so bold! Sticking to the facts “I want to make money on the internet / it’s in our best interest to cut to the bone”) seems to lessen the blow on these types of things. “You egotistical ass, I am so holy in all of my simplicity” is just as foul. You set a great example, Jay, and it’s this example I value even more so than any specific topic you write about.

I use the thesaurus.

It’s helpful when trying to use *less words *more efficiently. Thanks for the post!

By: juice

juice — Sat, 03 May 2008 04:54:54 +0000

I don’t work in an office (thank the maker) but I find your blog refreshing and useful. I don’t always agree with what you say, like your post on kindness, but I enjoy your blog every time I read it.