To put it mildly, with the expansion of the Internet and other electronic devices we are losing the edge on speaking or writing proper language. Take a walk down New York City streets and you'll hear f&&k being used in almost every sentence by many a youngster or older person. Asking someone to get aside is "f&&k off" or if the other party is angry "I'll beat the shit outta you, you motherf&&ker. One would think whatever happened to grammar and proper use of language. If our grandparents wake up from the dead, they may immediately die again of shock.
In the old days, when were taught grammar and language skills in the classroom, we took it very seriously and applied this new found language into our daily lives. While we could not have experience with botany, physics or other science subject after school, speaking and writing proper language (and courteous language) can be applied and experienced among family and friends with ease. So why is it that today we have a different set of ideals and form in writing and speaking?
I think a lot of this has to do with standards. In the old days, from the home and in the school, there was a standard set. A standard for dress was the school uniform; there was a standard set in the household on how parents and children speak to each other; and there was the standards of conduct set at school as well. These mannerisms nurtured into adulthood and carried to the work place, where there were standards for dress, conduct, writing and speaking as well. Work places do maintain their standards, and these standards weed the rude and language incompetent people out of the workplace, although some rough language may be tolerated in manual labor positions.
To get over the modern day improprieties in writing and speaking, perhaps, it is about time, that schools encompass a course on culture and decency.
Speaking of language, I now like to turn to another setting, and that is jargon. I recall many a time in UNICEF, there was the call for jargon free writing and speaking. Well, if techies are talking to techies, they have an audience that understands their jargon. But when the audience is not all technical, like in many meetings in UNICEF, one should aim for jargon free speech and writing. In this regard I want to introduce you to a wonderful woman, Chrissie Maher who has been a crusader for disambiguation of jargon. If the bank tells Chrissie that she has a debit balance, she will ask that they say it in plain English, like "your owe us" rather than say debit balance. And Chrissie is absolutely right. Debits and Credits are good use among accountants not for a bank customer!
I know for many years the UN has been talking (and doing) about harmonization. It is time to also talk about plain language communication. I think it is better than than having a massive glossary of terms to use the plain language in text and in the glossary match the the equivalent jargon terms.
Reference: New Chapter in Lifelong Drive for Plain English, Wall Street Journal, 10/6/2009 Page A1, A20.
