Comments on: Arrogance In Project Communication http://www.projectshrink.com/arrogance-in-project-communication-315.html Welcome To Shrinkonia. Sun, 13 May 2012 19:09:52 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Bas de Baar http://www.projectshrink.com/arrogance-in-project-communication-315.html#comment-730 Bas de Baar Sun, 26 Jul 2009 10:14:12 +0000 http://blog.softwareprojects.org/?p=315#comment-730 Hi Steve, great comments! Yes, the language is mostly used to set you apart as a group. Reminds me of another post I wrote about this: Why every manager wears a suit :) http://www.basdebaar.com/why-suits-create-suits-31.html Hi Steve, great comments! Yes, the language is mostly used to set you apart as a group. Reminds me of another post I wrote about this:

Why every manager wears a suit :)

http://www.basdebaar.com/why-suits-create-suits-31.html

]]> By: Steve Romero, IT Gov http://www.projectshrink.com/arrogance-in-project-communication-315.html#comment-729 Steve Romero, IT Gov Sat, 18 Jul 2009 04:50:12 +0000 http://blog.softwareprojects.org/?p=315#comment-729 Well said. I have railed for years against jargon - as opposed to simple or plain English (in my case). Consider the following definitions of jargon: 1. the language, esp. the vocabulary, peculiar to a particular trade, profession, or group 2. unintelligible or meaningless talk or writing; gibberish. 3. any talk or writing that one does not understand. 4. language that is characterized by uncommon or pretentious vocabulary and convoluted syntax and is often vague in meaning Though almost all those using jargon will insist they do so in accordance with the first definition listed, as far as I am concerned, jargon is used: - To showcase intelligence or superiority - To identify those "not in the know" - To confound or confuse the uneducated Consider the following definition of communication: "the imparting or interchange of thoughts, opinions, or information by speech, writing, or signs." Given this definition, the goal of communication is to be understood and to understand others. If somebody truly wants to communicate they will go to enormous lengths to use the appropriate speech, writing and signs to enable and ensure this understanding. Jargon and discipline-specific language rarely meet this goal. Steve Romero, IT Governance Evangelist http://community.ca.com/blogs/theitgovernanceevangelist/ Well said. I have railed for years against jargon – as opposed to simple or plain English (in my case). Consider the following definitions of jargon:
1. the language, esp. the vocabulary, peculiar to a particular trade, profession, or group
2. unintelligible or meaningless talk or writing; gibberish.
3. any talk or writing that one does not understand.
4. language that is characterized by uncommon or pretentious vocabulary and convoluted syntax and is often vague in meaning

Though almost all those using jargon will insist they do so in accordance with the first definition listed, as far as I am concerned, jargon is used:
- To showcase intelligence or superiority
- To identify those “not in the know”
- To confound or confuse the uneducated

Consider the following definition of communication: “the imparting or interchange of thoughts, opinions, or information by speech, writing, or signs.” Given this definition, the goal of communication is to be understood and to understand others.

If somebody truly wants to communicate they will go to enormous lengths to use the appropriate speech, writing and signs to enable and ensure this understanding. Jargon and discipline-specific language rarely meet this goal.

Steve Romero, IT Governance Evangelist
http://community.ca.com/blogs/theitgovernanceevangelist/

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