a phrase which we used to describe those who use 'bombastic' words to show off to others.
Excerpt from Mind our English in The Star by Fiona Chan:
“By harnessing next-generation technologies,” the press release said, “our customers will have access to a single, integrated marketplace that blends cutting-edge technologies with end-to-end services that address every aspect of successful go-to-market campaigns.”
I kept stumbling on vague promises of “360-degree, innovative and impactful end-to-end solutions”, “greater options to on-board and embed pre-selected technologies”, and “scalable and ready plug-in technology that speeds up deployment time, accelerating time-to-market”.
In my few years as a journalist, I’ve seen my fair share of headache-inducing corporate-speak. It usually involves “synergistic solutions”, “core competencies”, “leveraging value-add” and “enhanced” everything.
One memorable media statement about a new property launch waxed lyrical about the development being “aroused by its historical context” and blending various elements into a “beautifully layered woven architectural lantern”. I don’t know about you, but I find the idea of living in an aroused lantern a bit disturbing.
In the same way, people who are out of a job are never simply unemployed. Rather, they are “in-between jobs, finding myself, taking some me-time, working out what really makes me happy”.
And then, of course, they tack on the big words: a lack of a job is actually a “sabbatical” during which people achieve “self-actualisation”.
The list goes on. Kids who are too distracted to concentrate in school have “attention deficit hyperactivity disorder”. Adults who don’t do well in the workplace lack “incentivisation”.
There’s even a multisyllabic phrase to excuse those who use long words to obfuscate. To me, their problem is just hot air, but to them it is “sesquipedalian obscurantism”.
Excerpt from Mind our English in The Star by Fiona Chan:
“By harnessing next-generation technologies,” the press release said, “our customers will have access to a single, integrated marketplace that blends cutting-edge technologies with end-to-end services that address every aspect of successful go-to-market campaigns.”
I kept stumbling on vague promises of “360-degree, innovative and impactful end-to-end solutions”, “greater options to on-board and embed pre-selected technologies”, and “scalable and ready plug-in technology that speeds up deployment time, accelerating time-to-market”.
In my few years as a journalist, I’ve seen my fair share of headache-inducing corporate-speak. It usually involves “synergistic solutions”, “core competencies”, “leveraging value-add” and “enhanced” everything.
One memorable media statement about a new property launch waxed lyrical about the development being “aroused by its historical context” and blending various elements into a “beautifully layered woven architectural lantern”. I don’t know about you, but I find the idea of living in an aroused lantern a bit disturbing.
In the same way, people who are out of a job are never simply unemployed. Rather, they are “in-between jobs, finding myself, taking some me-time, working out what really makes me happy”.
And then, of course, they tack on the big words: a lack of a job is actually a “sabbatical” during which people achieve “self-actualisation”.
The list goes on. Kids who are too distracted to concentrate in school have “attention deficit hyperactivity disorder”. Adults who don’t do well in the workplace lack “incentivisation”.
There’s even a multisyllabic phrase to excuse those who use long words to obfuscate. To me, their problem is just hot air, but to them it is “sesquipedalian obscurantism”.
More:
In praise of plain English
http://thestar.com.my/lifestyle/story.asp?file=/2011/7/13/lifefocus/9027250&sec=lifefocus
In praise of plain English
http://thestar.com.my/lifestyle/story.asp?file=/2011/7/13/lifefocus/9027250&sec=lifefocus
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