Comments on: Gobbledygook? http://bly.com/blog/general/gobbledygook/ bly.com direct marketing blog Mon, 21 May 2012 07:00:12 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: games of thrones episodes http://bly.com/blog/general/gobbledygook/#comment-682266 games of thrones episodes Tue, 13 Mar 2012 14:56:24 +0000 http://www.bly.com/blog/?p=245#comment-682266 i just thought that queen latifah is one of the best comedians out there, she is really funny' i just thought that queen latifah is one of the best comedians out there, she is really funny’

]]> By: Suzanne Ryan http://bly.com/blog/general/gobbledygook/#comment-288278 Suzanne Ryan Sat, 07 Apr 2007 14:09:25 +0000 http://www.bly.com/blog/?p=245#comment-288278 That example is a great illustration of why corporate writing bugs the heck out of me. It's just a lot of hoity toity vagueness that is either meant to impress or intimidate. If anybody talks like that inside their own head then God help them! That example is a great illustration of why corporate writing bugs the heck out of me. It’s just a lot of hoity toity vagueness that is either meant to impress or intimidate.

If anybody talks like that inside their own head then God help them!

]]> By: Sean D'Souza http://bly.com/blog/general/gobbledygook/#comment-287982 Sean D'Souza Fri, 06 Apr 2007 21:58:03 +0000 http://www.bly.com/blog/?p=245#comment-287982 Target audience language doesn't always appeal to those of us who hate jargon. But there are whole audiences out there who thrive on 'jargon speak.' How much is jargon speak valid? Do you have to speak in jargon, or will clear, non-jargon language work better? Most jargon-speakers believe that jargon works better. But I only believe that to be true if you're speaking about stuff that involves 'tech-speak'. It's pointless at a doctor's conference, if a doctor dumbs down his presentation and doesn't use doctor-jargon. It's almost impossible to be at a graphic design conference and not hear 'tweening,' or 'kerning' or 'geek talk of InDesignCS2. That's a totally different kind of jargon. In fact, it's not even jargon. It's a shorthand. And what we need to distinguish between is: jargon and shorthand. Jargon is just jargon--and often very effective when new: e.g. 'ISO 9001 rating.' But it soon meanders into rubbish talk like the example above. This is someone who can't communicate well. That's it. It's not a factor of jargon. It's definitely not shorthand. And therefore it's pure rubbish. Target audience language doesn’t always appeal to those of us who hate jargon. But there are whole audiences out there who thrive on ‘jargon speak.’

How much is jargon speak valid? Do you have to speak in jargon, or will clear, non-jargon language work better? Most jargon-speakers believe that jargon works better. But I only believe that to be true if you’re speaking about stuff that involves ‘tech-speak’. It’s pointless at a doctor’s conference, if a doctor dumbs down his presentation and doesn’t use doctor-jargon. It’s almost impossible to be at a graphic design conference and not hear ‘tweening,’ or ‘kerning’ or ‘geek talk of InDesignCS2.

That’s a totally different kind of jargon. In fact, it’s not even jargon. It’s a shorthand.

And what we need to distinguish between is: jargon and shorthand. Jargon is just jargon–and often very effective when new: e.g. ‘ISO 9001 rating.’ But it soon meanders into rubbish talk like the example above.

This is someone who can’t communicate well. That’s it.
It’s not a factor of jargon. It’s definitely not shorthand. And therefore it’s pure rubbish.

]]> By: Sean D'Souza http://bly.com/blog/general/gobbledygook/#comment-287979 Sean D'Souza Fri, 06 Apr 2007 21:50:25 +0000 http://www.bly.com/blog/?p=245#comment-287979 And to answer the question: You can't answer this question because she's vague. Look at: optimize their performance: What does that mean? Look at: essential skills: What does that mean? Again: learning solutions: what does that mean? And the best of all: measurable business results: What does that mean? There's no way you can help her unless you know details, but here's a crack at what I'd do -- to create effectiveness. Again it depends whom this is being sold to: If it's to the boss: CZ enables employees to reduce work-time by 20% or more--thus reducing the need to hire more employees. If it's to the employee: CZ enables employees to reduce work-time by 20% or more--so you're not always fighting deadlines--and work under far less pressure. Sean http://www.psychotactics.com And to answer the question:
You can’t answer this question because she’s vague.

Look at: optimize their performance: What does that mean?
Look at: essential skills: What does that mean?
Again: learning solutions: what does that mean?
And the best of all: measurable business results: What does that mean?

There’s no way you can help her unless you know details, but here’s a crack at what I’d do — to create effectiveness.

Again it depends whom this is being sold to:
If it’s to the boss:
CZ enables employees to reduce work-time by 20% or more–thus reducing the need to hire more employees.

If it’s to the employee:
CZ enables employees to reduce work-time by 20% or more–so you’re not always fighting deadlines–and work under far less pressure.

Sean
http://www.psychotactics.com

]]> By: Kenneth W. Davis http://bly.com/blog/general/gobbledygook/#comment-287965 Kenneth W. Davis Fri, 06 Apr 2007 21:01:33 +0000 http://www.bly.com/blog/?p=245#comment-287965 Great example, Bob! I'd start with "CZ helps workers (or employees, or people) do better work." But the "measurable business results" seems important, so I might say "CZ helps workers do measurably better work." Great example, Bob! I’d start with “CZ helps workers (or employees, or people) do better work.” But the “measurable business results” seems important, so I might say “CZ helps workers do measurably better work.”

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