Lingo/Jargon/Slang

      Lingo is more than just a game on TV. According to Miriam Webster it is the special vocabulary of a particular field of interest.  It is also known as jargon or slang.  The differences between the three are very elusive and they are used interchangeably.

What is ”ROTFL”?  Jargon. What is “vertically challenged”? Jargon. What is “in the loop”? Jargon.

       Jargon is the “insiders” language that defines a specific activity, event, group, or product to other people within the group. It is a shortcut to communication among people in the know, but has little meaning to anyone outside the group.  It also makes your customers and clients very uncomfortable; akin to being in a group of people speaking a foreign language that you don’t understand. Politicians are famous for doublespeak and jargon.  It allows them to be understood, yet not very precise. 

       Using jargon, lingo, doublespeak or slang in marketing is a way of making your product or service sound more important or significant than it really is.  It is the secret code of your offering. To the uninformed, it makes the product sound like something they must have immediately or their world might come to an end.  Seldom does the public “read between the lines” to see what is really being said; and marketers don’t want them to.  Remember the Wizard of Oz hiding behind the curtain so nobody could see that he was just an ordinary man, albeit with sage wisdom.

       Our use of language has become sloppy, especially with the explosion of technology.  Soon we will forget all together how to communicate clearly; slang, lingo and jargon will take over.  Nobody will know the difference between real and make believe.  They will simply be left “out of the loop”.  All of your marketing efforts will be lost, because people just won’t want to work hard enough to understand your message.

     Start now to be more clear and precise with your message.  Customers don't like to be talked down to and will always favor real, honest messages.

Cell Phone Etiquite

Can You Hear Me Now?

     Of course I can; and so can everyone else within 100 feet.  Ever since we became wedded to our cell phones in the mid 80’s we have entered a new realm of rudeness. 

     How did we communicate before we had cell phones?  We wrote letters, sent telegrams (feared because they often contained bad news), and made phone calls from home, office, or pay phones.  Pay phones were found on every corner, in stores, gas stations, and restaurants.  For many years you could make a local call for a dime.

     Today we have email, PDA’s, and cell phones.  The emails we can block but we always answer our cell phones.  You will often hear whole conversations, that aren’t aimed at you and hold no interest.  Past generations did not have to confront this rudeness.  Our entire society was a lot more genteel.  We went out of the way to bepolite and not intrude on others.

   Let’s Talk.com has developed some guidelines for cell phone use so you can avoid bothering other people with your calls.

MUTE

   Many establishments now request that you not use your phone when on their premises. Pay attention to the rules, they have been written for a reason.

INCOMING CALLS

   Personalized and joke ring tones are especially offensive.  Try giving certain people unique ringtones, like I’ve done for my Father, so you know which calls have to be answered.  Let everything else go to voicemail until later.

VOLUMN CONTROL

   It is not necessary to scream into your phone.  If you have a good signal your indoor voice will do; if not no amount of screaming will help

SHORT AND SWEET

   When in public relate information and hang up.  You can go into the details later on your own time.

DON’T TEXT AND DRIVE

   Besides being very dangerous texting is probably against the law.  If you must respond pull over or call back when you stop.

EXCUSE YOURSELF BEFORE TAKING THE CALL

   Emergencies do arise. Some calls may be unavoidable.  Let the people you are with know, in advance, that if you hear a particular ringtone you will have to take the call.

NO PICTURES, PLEASE
   Always ask before taking pictures.  You could put your friends in a very uncompromising position.

Do You Still Know How to Write?

How often have you seen a teen without a cell phone? And how many of them are texting messages to their friends. The cell phone has definitely become a way of life. Besides the normal questions of etiquette, distraction and just plain rudeness there are two other questions to explore.

The first has to do with communication styles. I don’t understand why someone would send a text message when they can just as easily make a call from the same equipment. Don’t people like to talk to each other any more? Have we totally lost the need to reach out and connect with other people? One young man I recently saw on TV, who was getting ready to go to Marine boot camp, was perplexed about not being able to use his phone with him. He readily admitted to 17,000 text messages per month; yes 17 THOUSAND. He must never talk to anyone or do anything besides texting.

The second challenge this young man will have to face is also a problem for a lot of people. Does he know how to write a letter? One of quandaries of text messages is the shortened language form. For ease of use most words have been shortened, or just represented with letters. Will this young man, or anyone else for that matter, be able to translate the abbreviations back into proper English. How will they communicate with the folks back home or any offices or services where they need help? I doubt that the Marines will accept text messages for inquiries. The chance of him having a cell phone available on duty is also very slim. How does he expect to keep in touch with his world?

I do appreciate that cell phones, with their texting technologies are a great tool. However, there is a time and place. The technology is being abused. They have even evolved into a Twitter world where 140 characters can convey your message. It is a quick and easy way to spread the word of any event in real time. But to just use the technology on a whim, or as a toy, defeats its purpose and dilutes our communication skills to a debilitating degree.